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.
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
