Haven Hart #7
Haven Hart stands on the edge of good and evil. Having balance between the two is the only thing keeping the town from crumbling to the ground. For years, one man has been charged with maintaining that balance. Poe.
The air of mystery surrounding Poe is one of necessity. He’s the keeper of secrets and for good reason. He’s stood alone against the most ruthless men and women, always hiding behind the curtain to help his friends defeat what seeks to destroy them.
Now, after all this time, the city he loves, the people he has protected, and the secrets he’s kept hidden are in serious jeopardy. Poe will need the help of his friends to fight the ultimate battle; not just save Haven Hart but everything and everyone he holds dear to him.
When the dust settles, will betrayals be forgiven? Will the city still be standing? Will Poe’s beloved be at his side or will everything crumble? One thing is for certain, everything will be tested, and questions will finally be answered. Raven’s Hart is the final installment in the Haven Hart Series.
***IMPORTANT***
This is the 7th book in the Haven Hart Series it is NOT a standalone and all others need to be read before this one.
The air of mystery surrounding Poe is one of necessity. He’s the keeper of secrets and for good reason. He’s stood alone against the most ruthless men and women, always hiding behind the curtain to help his friends defeat what seeks to destroy them.
Now, after all this time, the city he loves, the people he has protected, and the secrets he’s kept hidden are in serious jeopardy. Poe will need the help of his friends to fight the ultimate battle; not just save Haven Hart but everything and everyone he holds dear to him.
When the dust settles, will betrayals be forgiven? Will the city still be standing? Will Poe’s beloved be at his side or will everything crumble? One thing is for certain, everything will be tested, and questions will finally be answered. Raven’s Hart is the final installment in the Haven Hart Series.
***IMPORTANT***
This is the 7th book in the Haven Hart Series it is NOT a standalone and all others need to be read before this one.
First, I have to give myself a big hand of applause👏👏👏👏👏👏 because I managed to do something I have never done before with a book that I have anticipated as much as I have with Raven's Hart: I savored the read! That's right, you heard me, I savored the read. Normally, my biggest tell as to whether it's a winning gem is I just have to know how it ends so I read the book as I quickly as life allows but then when I get to the final page I kick myself for not reading it slower to prolong the amazing goodness. HOWEVER, I knew Raven's Hart was the finale to Davidson King's Haven Hart Universe so I forced myself to "linger" so I could put off that final page and the goodbye as long as possible. So excuse me a minute while I give myself another round of applause👏👏👏👏👏👏.
Now on to Raven's Hart. What can I say without spoilers? Very little actually so as to the plot: HOLY HANNAH BATMAN!!! OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!! THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE!!!! Can you tell I liked it? We finally learn Poe's story and what a story it is! Poe, a man who went from yoga-in-the-park BFF to the-man-with-access-to-the-vaults to THE MAN! and he did it all with heart, a heart that beats, breaks, and bleeds. We finally learn what keeps that heart going. That's it, that's all the plot points you are getting from me, any more would just give too much away. Sorry, not sorry😉.
Everyone returns to rally around the man who has helped them(albeit reluctantly at times). I was going to say "the entire cast of characters returns" but I changed it to just "everyone" because to say "cast of characters" puts a spotlight on them being fictional. And yes, I know they are fictional, Haven Hart is fictional, but Davidson King has done such an exceptionally amazing job at world building and character development that they seem so real, that you could meet them pumping gas, getting milk, returning books to the library, etc. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Davidson King is more than an author or writer, she is a storyteller, an attention-grabbing, heart-pounding, adrenaline-pumping storyteller.
If you have been reading Haven Hart from the beginning then you probably already have Raven's Hart in your sights and on your list but if you haven't now is the perfect time to start. As I started with, Poe's story is the finale to this amazing journey so you can read from beginning to end and you really do need to read this series in order. Yes, each entry focuses on a different couple(or throuple in Triple Threat and Snow Storm features Snow and Christopher from Snow Falling which started this amazing journey) with it's own beginning and ending but each book also holds clues to the full mysterious journey. I really can't recommend Haven Hart Universe enough and I'll fill you in on a little secret, if they ever made this into a film series Haven Hart would be a very close second to the Star Wars Saga on my favorite films of all time list(and if you know me then you'll know how huge that is because I've been a SW fanatic since I saw the original back in 1977 when I was only 4 years old)😉.
One last note: I said Raven's Hart is the finale to Haven's Hart and it is but we do get to see more of Simon's story in 2020. Who knows maybe if we are super, duper, uber nice Miss King will write a holiday novella/coda some day😉😉. Either way, its been onehelluva ride, Davidson King and Thank You for this amazing world you gave us.
Original Audiobook Listen May 2020:
I'm going to start by saying: WOW! HOLY HANNAH BATMAN! THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE! Now, I've used all those terms repeatedly to express my absolute and complete love for both Davidson King's art of storytelling and the Haven Hart Universe but this time I'm adding it to express my love for Joel Leslie & Philip Alces narration. I've loved their portrayals from the beginning but in Raven's Hart, they are not only telling Poe & Phin's story but all the characters return in this amazing series conclusion(😭BOO! to the ending of this amazing series😭 but 😍YAY! to the brilliance of it's telling😍). Personally, I'll confess I was worried how well the individual characters from past entries would be differentiated. I need not have worried because there wasn't a single second where I wasn't sure who was who. Talented narration, talented storytelling, what more could a person ask for? Maybe more😉😉😉lol.
RATING:
Davidson King
Westford
I'm going to start by saying: WOW! HOLY HANNAH BATMAN! THE FORCE IS STRONG WITH THIS ONE! Now, I've used all those terms repeatedly to express my absolute and complete love for both Davidson King's art of storytelling and the Haven Hart Universe but this time I'm adding it to express my love for Joel Leslie & Philip Alces narration. I've loved their portrayals from the beginning but in Raven's Hart, they are not only telling Poe & Phin's story but all the characters return in this amazing series conclusion(😭BOO! to the ending of this amazing series😭 but 😍YAY! to the brilliance of it's telling😍). Personally, I'll confess I was worried how well the individual characters from past entries would be differentiated. I need not have worried because there wasn't a single second where I wasn't sure who was who. Talented narration, talented storytelling, what more could a person ask for? Maybe more😉😉😉lol.
RATING:
PROLOGUE
1999
Poe
The last few days had been strange but today, July 22, 1999, was by far the strangest and most unforgettable. It was the day He spoke to me for the very first time.
My mother and father were in the clubhouse with the rest of the Hart family’s staff watching television. It had been that way every day since the announcement that JFK Jr’s plane had crashed. Today they found the bodies and no one left their televisions, perhaps hoping it wasn’t them at all.
I was spending the hot summer day doing what I did pretty much every day. Drawing. There was a wonderful weeping willow tree that cascaded over an oak bench along the glistening pond in the Hart’s backyard. The shade it provided was perfect for me.
I always knew I was different, and my mother often told me my life wouldn’t be easy. At ten years old, I had to wear thick black glasses and avoid the light if I didn’t want raging headaches. It was explained to me I had achromatopsia. In short, they told me I could only see in black and white and shades of gray. Light was not my friend and to be a good boy and listen to the doctors.
Being unable to play in the sun like the other kids often had me enjoying my own company. The Harts weren’t mean to me, they mostly just ignored me. That, coupled with the fact there wasn’t anyone who wanted to play with me, brought me to this very spot where I found peace. But on this day in July, I became some awful kids’ entertainment. But not for long.
“Look, Evan, it’s the vampire,” one boy, who was stocky and had freckles, said with a chuckle.
“Be careful, Jimmy, if you get too close, he’ll bite you,” the other boy, I assumed was Evan, responded.
“Should you be out in this, freak? You might combust.” Both cackled at their unoriginal comment. I just went on drawing and ignored them.
“Shit, you deaf too?” I wasn’t looking at them now, so I didn’t know which spoke, but a second later, I felt something hit my leg. A rock. They threw a rock at me.
“I’m not a vampire, nor am I target practice. Just go back and find Mas—” Another rock hit, this time at my side making me flinch.
“Oh no, Jimmy, he’s gonna charge us.” Evan’s tone was dripping with sarcasm, and if I didn’t want to get seriously injured, I’d have to abandon my favorite spot.
As quickly as possible, I gathered my sketch pad and pencils and began walking the other way. Another rock hit me in the back, and my feet tangled together. My sketch pad went flying as did my pencils.
“Careful, vampire, you don’t want one of those pencils stabbing your heart.” I believed that was Jimmy’s voice. I was getting better at identifying them without looking.
If I didn’t get back inside, I was surely going to start bleeding. Being bullied wasn’t a new thing for me. When I’d lived in Russia with my parents, I remember being teased because they’d dress me in long coats and dark glasses; while I’d liked it, it was forever weird to others. At six, that wasn’t easy to deal with, but the fact it was adults being cruel was shitty. At least they didn’t throw things at me like Thing One and Thing Two here.
I’d just gathered my things and was rushing toward the house when I heard his voice. He was two years younger than me, but he was big. I could tell his hair was light in color—my mom said it was blond when I asked. I didn’t know the shade of his eyes, but they glittered like the pond. Whenever I looked at Phineas Hart, the air left my body for the briefest of moments.
“What do you two morons think you’re doing?” He was racing toward us, anger showed in his beautiful features. Evan and Jimmy weren’t laughing anymore, and when I peered over my shoulder, I’d say they seemed terrified.
“We were looking for you,” Jimmy said with a shrug, trying to play off his obvious nervousness.
“Is that right?” Phineas said as he stood next to me. For the briefest moment, I thought he was going to lay into me, too, but through my thick glasses, I saw the hint of a smile. It was as warm as the summer sun and I was no longer afraid.
“Yeah,” Evan said as he toed the grass.
“Well, here I am.” He held his arms out. He didn’t look like he was eight, he looked more like eighteen. His presence was powerful. Like all the Harts, it was like he was touched by God himself. He was taller than Evan and Jimmy, not taller than me, but he was two years younger and I had my father’s genes, so I knew I’d be close to six feet when I grew up, maybe bigger.
“’Kay, so wanna see the Pokémon cards I got today?” Evan took out some cards from his back pocket and approached Phineas. He held them out and just as he was about to say something more, Phineas smacked them to the ground.
“I don’t want you coming by here anymore, Evan. You neither, Jimmy. Poe lives here at this house and if you’re gonna be jerks, then you can’t come by. Take your stupid cards and get out of here.” He didn’t yell because he didn’t have to. His hands were clenched, and his eyes narrowed in obvious rage… for me.
“Seriously, Phin? But he’s so weird,” Jimmy said, and immediately took three steps back as Phineas took three steps forward.
“You best be leaving, Jimmy, before I ask my father to make the bad people go away. I said you aren’t welcome here anymore, so either get outta here or I’m going to scream.” He cocked his head to the side. “How many people you think will come running when they hear me yell for help?”
Evan was halfway down the lawn before Jimmy tuned into what was happening. Once the two of them were out of sight, Phineas turned to me.
“Sorry about that, Poe. They’re jerks and won’t be coming here anymore.” His smile was almost too bright for my eyes.
“Oh, um, it’s okay, Master Hart. I…” He cut me off with a laugh.
“God, please don’t ever call me that again. Just Phin.”
I nodded but felt like I shouldn’t be in his presence. My parents told me once they were hired by the Hart family to run the household that I was to stay out of sight. I was homeschooled here, and my best friend was a boy who tended the horses with his father. I rarely saw him, so it was just me and my shadow.
“Wanna play?” Phin asked, and I felt my eyes widen. No way he could see the shock through the darkness of my glasses, but it was there.
“Play?” I looked around wondering if maybe someone else was behind me.
“Yes, it’s what kids do. We’re kids.” He swiped his finger from me to him. “We can swim in the pond, or watch a movie, or I dunno, anything.”
“You want to play with me?”
He chuckled. “’Course I do, Poe. Come on. You’ve been here like a year and I never see you. Finally, I got up the nerve to ask you to play.”
Got up the nerve? He was afraid of me?“Why do you call me Poe?” I asked finally, wondering.
His brows shot to his hairline. “Well, I dunno. I heard your name was Raven but I saw on the papers, when I snuck into my parents’ room, that your middle name was Poe. My tutor forced me to read ‘The Raven’ by Edgar Allan Poe. Didn’t understand, like, any of it.” Phineas shrugged. “I mean I’m eight, what was she thinking? Anyway, it was kinda creepy and whatever. I liked the name Poe, though, and I thought Poe was more you. So, yeah, I can call you Raven if you want.”
Suddenly, I didn’t want that. I loved that he saw me differently, and I wanted to be called Poe more than anything.
“I like it, thanks.”
He smiled again. “So you call me Phin and I call you Poe. P and P.”
I laughed then. “Just not peepee.” Now we were both laughing hysterically.
“Yeah, that’s not good. Come on. Let’s go inside where it’s cooler and watch a movie. My dad got The Blair Witch Project. Looks scary, wanna see it?”
I wasn’t sure I did. Movies were sometimes hard to see, but Phineas Hart wanted to hang out with me and I wasn’t saying no.
“Sure. Didn’t that only just hit the theaters the other day?”
He nodded as we walked back toward the house. Well, castle really. It was massive and had towers and everything.
“Yeah, but when my dad wants something, he usually gets it.” He shrugged like that wasn’t a scary thing to hear. The Harts ran all of Haven Hart. I didn’t understand exactly what they did, but my mom told me they made sure everything ran smoothly. They weren’t flashy and often avoided the limelight. Dad said it was for safety reasons. I couldn’t understand not wanting to venture out and see all the good they were doing. At least I assumed it was all good.
“I see,” I said as we stepped inside. The cool air slammed into me and relief washed over my body.
“Theater room is this way.”
I followed him through the long hallways and down several flights of stairs. I’d never been on this side of the house before and was excited and nervous. What a wonderful feeling.
“Jana, can you pop us some popcorn, please?” he asked one of the staff. I knew Jana. She was from England and started around the same time my parents did.
“Surely, Master Hart.” She winked at me as she passed, and I wondered what my parents were going to say to me later when they found out.
The seats in the theater room were like clouds. It was dark, quiet, and comfortable. The perfect room for someone like me.
“I can adjust the brightness on the screen if you want. I know light bothers you, and I want you to see some of it. A lot of it’s dark, though, I’m told.” He was pushing back a velvet curtain exposing a huge screen. “I don’t know much about you, Poe.” He turned and smiled again. “Can’t wait to find out, though.”
Phin was like sunlight and warmth. I’d seen him all over the place, even if he never saw me. He was always laughing, and I suddenly wanted to know everything about him, too.
“I can’t wait to find out all about you, too,” I answered, earning me an even bigger smile.
That summer was the best I ever had. And the years I was with Phin in that house growing up were everything to me. It was us against the world he’d always tell me when one of us was upset. He’d try and make me feel better, and I’d do my best to make him feel better.
I learned so much about Phin the boy and grew to love Phin the man. And then, as suddenly as he stormed into my life, he was gone, and I was left with a life I never thought I’d have.
October 2022 Book of the Month
Westford
🎧Monday Mysterious Mayhem🎧
Davidson King, always had a hope that someday her daydreams would become real-life stories. As a child, you would often find her in her own world, thinking up the most insane situations. It may have taken her awhile, but she made her dream come true with her first published work, Snow Falling.
She managed to wrangle herself a husband who matched her crazy and they hatched three wonderful children.
If you were to ask her what gave her the courage to finally publish, she’d tell you it was her amazing family and friends. Support is vital in all things and when you’re afraid of your dreams, it will be your cheering section that will lift you up.
EMAIL: davidsonkingauthor@yahoo.com
Raven's Hart #7
Westford
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