BOOK REVIEW: SPELLBOUND by CARA LYNN SCHULTZ

Title:   SPELLBOUND

Author:  CARA LYNN SHULTZ

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Pages: 344

Acquired:  eBook for review from NetGalley
Due for Release:  July 2011

RATING: 3.5 out of 5 Spellbinding Stars

Description from Goodreads:

What’s a girl to do when meeting The One means she’s cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn’t been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she’s irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can’t stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma’s been having the oddest dreams. Visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

Review:

Well I definitely enjoyed reading Spellbound.  It was quite an easy read and had me wanting to finish it in one sitting.  It is mostly a romantic book - with slight paranormal tendencies thrown in.  The main background is the love and reincarnation throughout the generations.  The reference to this in Spellbound makes for a lovely read - a story within a story that captivates you on a different level.

Emma Connor has had a pretty crappy past couple of years and now finds herself in the care of an Aunt that just wants her to have a good life. This means sending Emma to an elite close knit school with only her younger cousin as a friend.  This quickly changes and Emma finds herself, typically, at the hands of the school Don Juan, mercilessly hunted by the rich nasty girl, grabs herself a new guy BFF, befriends the local Witch outcast and falls head over heals for the richest and hottest guy in school - further aggravating the rich nasty girl!!!! 

Kristen is the nasty rich girl - and she's certainly a piece of work. Anthony (Don Juan) is just downright committable (?) - oh boy does Emma have her work cut out for her with this one. He's lust for vengeance is great and we see some very action packed revenge, particularly at the end of the book.

Cisco makes a great BFF - though towards the end he kind of just disappears from the storyline as it focuses on Brendan and Emma.  Hhhmmmm Brendan.....ultra hotty rich kid with a broody persona!! Yep, that makes him the leading man and the object of Emma's affection.   When we first meet Brendan his character is stereotypical of the broody male lead.....but then when the connection with Emma deepens....he seems to turn a little too lovey dovey for me!!!  Don't get me wrong....all the affection would be great....he just didn't come across as that sort of character to begin with and I found it to be a little too much.

We are left with musings from the resident Witch outcast Angelique. Which were either leading to a new book or just rumblings of a witch not getting her own way!!! Couldn't quite decide on that.

Overall.....I enjoyed Spellbound.  It had a lot of passion (though not the tawdry or beyond YA variety!), definitely some action and ass kicking.  Switch off, jump on the couch and give this a read. It's not a brain strainer and can definitely chill you out on a Sunday arvo - that's what I did.

I very rarely do the "Quotes" thing in my reviews (Michelle is skilled at that!!)......but I read this, cracked up and I just HAD to share it........

She just shook her head and pulled out a small bottle of some random pop star's signature perfume, spritzing me with the sickly-sweet smell.

"Oh, come on, Ash, that smells like a unicorn fart," I cried, recoiling at the overpowering, candylike smell.

ENJOY!

MARISSA