Book Review: Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Title: Spellbound

Author: Cara Lynn Shultz

Publisher: Harlequin

Release Date: 2011

Format: e-book

Source: Netgalley

My Rating: 5 stars

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.

Reading the synopsis I thought this book was something that was already done. Spellbound is about reincarnation and true love. I have read another two books with the same theme and I must say Spellbound is the winner among them. Cara Lynn Shultz managed to put in page and show us the connection Emma and Brendan have without being so blunt about it.

We see the connection right away between them but their relationship develops slowly... until they both realize that they have something more than a simple crush. Of course finding your true love couldn't have been that easy and they both come across a curse that they must find a way to fight or else Emma will end up dead... again. 

I liked Emma. She was fun, confident and stood up for everything she believed. We get a small glimpse of her old troubled life and that helped enhance her character more. It was just a merely glimpse but I thought it was just enough not to overflow the story. Brendan was nothing like I was expecting him to be. I would simply put it this way... he's a good boy. He cares about Emma and from the first moment he laid eyes on her, his instinct was to protect Emma form anything that threatened her. He looks calm from the outside but when the moment comes we see his slightly tempered side. He is fiercely protective about Emma. 

Although we see instant connection between them, Emma realizes that she loves Brendan towards the end of the book. The author doesn't stop at the my-true-love connection between them and gives them the time to know each other. The way they act around each other at first brought me giggles as the author managed to capture the feelings of teenage first love.

The writing was easy to follow and wasn't at all slow. There was always something happening which made the pace more quick. From the title you expect this to be a paranormal book but aside from the reincarnation thing there isn't much to it. The characters and the plot of this book made up for it and I didn't mind at all. 

Overall I loved it! I would definitely recommend reading this if you love YA romance with a touch of paranormal. Cara manages to compine swoon worthy romance with a hind of magic enough to spellbound you to it. 

PS: The cover makes total sense after you've read the book.

Frosy

Teaser Tuesday (13)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

My Teasers

How do I say hello? Is this too much of a statement to make?

I didn't know what to do, remembering how I embarrassed myself the Monday after we had hung out together at the Met. Only this time, his rebuttal would absolutely flatten me.

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz 

Aislinn looked at him, at her friends who where staring at him adoringly. 

He caught her gaze and smiled.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

"Why?" she asks.

"I can't tell you. You'll have to to trust me."

Janie takes a step back. The words ring familiar in her ears. She asked the same of him once.

Wake by Lisa McMann

Frosy

Cover Crazy Thursday (5)

Cover Crazy is created and hosted by Tawnil at The Book Worms. Find more information here. 

In this exciting collection, bestselling authors Meg Cabot (How to Be Popular), Kim Harrison (A Fistful of Charms), Michele Jaffe (Bad Kitty), Stephenie Meyer (Twilight), and Lauren Myracle (ttyl) take bad prom nights to a whole new level—a paranormally bad level. Wardrobe malfunctions and two left feet don't hold a candle to discovering your date is the Grim Reaper—and he isn't here to tell you how hot you look.From angels fighting demons to a creepy take on getting what you wish for, these five stories will entertain better than any DJ in a bad tux. No corsage or limo rental necessary. Just good, scary fun. Taken from Goodreads.com. 

I love masquerade balls so I was excited when I saw this cover. This is the Greek cover of Prom Nights From Hell. The original cover is down below. I own the book in English with the following cover and I'm looking forward to reading this soon.

Frosy

Vampire Academy: Book Review

Title: Vampire Academy
Author: Richelle Mead
Series: Vampire Academy, Book 1
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: 2007
Format: Paperback
Pages: 332
Source: Bought
My Rating: 4 stars

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever. Taken from Goodreads.com.

I have been hearing about Vampire Academy for a long time but I never picked it up for some reason. The covers of these books aren't so inviting but that wasn't really the reason but I'm glad to pick it up finally after having it for a year sitting on my bookshelf. I have to thank Melissa for that at Paranormally Romanced for making me read it. Thanks Melissa!

It's been a while since I read a book with such a kick-ass character. Rose was confident and blunt forward for anything she had in mind. She was a loyal friend and would do anything to protect Lisa. It was a relief for once to find out that the protagonists' best friend is actually a friend to them.

The story was a little hard to follow with the different kind of vampires, the good (Moroi Vampires) and the bad ones (Strigoi Vampires) and of course the guardians that protect Moroi vampires. Rose is training to become a guardian and hopes to be Lisa's guardian. The story is fast paced and I turned each page eagerly to learn what happens next. I liked Rose and Lisa. They sort of completed each other and that helped them a lot along the way.

The romance in this book wasn't what I was expecting. Everybody seems to be talking about Dimitri and I must admit it was one of the reasons I picked up this book, to find out about him. There aren't a lot of scenes with him and the scenes where we see him in are mostly the ones that he trains Rose. So you basically get to see them both and how they interact with each other. I didn't see the connection between them or liked Dimitri. I didn't dislike him either he was just.... there. I would say that I'm 'neutral' about him but I have 5 more books so you never know. Sorry Melissa if you're reading this you are probably planning my death. :) I tried! Saying that though I must also say that I haven't given up. I'll read the next books, which I plan soon, and see if I get to know more about Dimitri because you barely do in this book.

There is also another love story in this book and it's between Lisa and Christian which I loved! I just wished I could see more of Christian and Lisa. I wouldn't think it could be possible but through the connection Rose and Lissa have, Rose can enter Lisa's mind and see and feel whatever Lisa is doing and feeling. So through those few moments we get to see and know more about Lisa.

Overall I loved the book. At first when I picked up this book I though I was holding a good romance involving vampires. Now when I hold the book, I'm thinking of holding a good kick-ass book. If you haven't read it and you have doubts about it don't worry just pick it up!

Frosy

Follow Friday(9) & Book Blogger Hop(9) & TGIF(2)

TGIF is hosted byGReads.

This week's question is:

Q. Book Love: Do you share your books with others? Who was the last person you sent a book to?

Not really, my friends don't read that much. The last person that I lend a book at was a classmate of mine in Junior High which I got her obsessed with The Tales of Otori. 
I try to give books to people that will handle my books with care as I do. I tend to keep my books in the best condition as possible and if I know that that person won't look after it, then I'm sorry no book for them.

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee's View.

This week's question is:

Q. What are you doing to prepare for an upcoming zombie apocalypse and/or the return of Mel Gibson to the silver screen? (Both of which could be terrifying)

Difficult question. I have no idea! I don't know about Mel Gibson but in case zombies run freely outside I would probably panic and hope a really cute guy can come to my rescue. That's what happens in zombie books, right? I haven't read a book with zombies and now I think I should. You never know when those crazy scientists will release their zombie experiments! 

Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy-for-Books.
This week's question is:

Q. Share your favourite post from last month and tell us why it's close to your heart. 

Well my favourite post about last month would be the review I did on If I Stay by Gayle Forman. Such an incredible book that I have it close to my heart and I'm glad that I picked it up. It's heart breaking. You can find my review here.

Frosy

Cover Crazy Thursday (4)

Cover Crazy is created and hosted by Tawnil at The Book Worms. Find more information here. 

Nevermore by Kelly CreaghCheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look. 
Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. 
As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares. 

I just loved the cover from the moment I laid eyes on it. Pink is my favourite colour and pink with black make the perfect combination. I'm not really crazy about the models on the cover since they are nothing like I've imagine them in the book, especially Varen. He's supposed to have a piercing on the corner of his lips. Where is it? I also like the writing (not title etc.) that covers all the front and back cover. In this picture it's in purple but the copy I have, the writing is shiny with no colour.
But my favourite part isn't on the front of the cover but on the back of the book. I tried to find a picture of it through google since I was feeling kind of lazy to pick up my camera and take a picture of it. The back cover has the back of Isobel's dress which is gorgeous! I love it! Where can I find it? :)
I'm reading it right now and I'm loving each page of it!

Frosy

It's June 2011: What are you reading?

Today is the first day of June and I thought that I should share with you what I've read this past month and what I plan to read in June. Even though university is out for the summer I'm getting lazy regarding to my reading. So I'll be doing this every month, a monthly goal if you will so I can keep track and not get too lazy!

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If you want to participate please live a comment telling me so and I'll put up a link for you to link your posts. I can even make it a monthly meme if you're interested. 

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May 2011

Now to the month of May. I didn't read a lot of books I was sooo lazy!

If I Stay by Gayle Forman (review here)

Twilight, The Graphic Novel: Volume 1 (review here)

Blue Noon by Scott Westerfeld (review to come)

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers (review to come)

June 2011

Now to the books I'm setting as a monthly goal to read! Hopefully I can read them all!

Hardcovers

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

Paperbacks

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

The Dream of the Stone by Christina Askounis

Wake by Lisa McMann

Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

e-books

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

So I have 9 books for this month and I SO want to read them! I hope I can achieve this goal. I wasn't joking when I said I've been getting lazy. I seem to find time to read when I have a full load of assignments rather than now that I don't. Weird... anyway I have already started Nevermore and I'm loving it so far!! I'm also 15 pages in Wicked Lovely, too soon to tell you anything but I like the writing. So that's it! 

What did you read and what are you going to read next?

Frosy