Monday, July 4, 2011

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

My summary:

Emma is heading into her junior year at an expensive private school on the New York’s Upper East Side.  Sounds good but it’s really not.  Having just arrived in New York from Keansburg New Jersey, Emma is still scared by the car accident with her all too drunk step-father.  With both her twin brother and her mother dead, Emma was left to deal with her step-father.  The car accident was the last straw though and she moves to New York to live with her aunt.  She doesn’t want to explain any of this to the rich and fashion obsessed students of Vincent Academy.  With only her younger cousin as a friend, she faces the school year.  Not surprisingly, she isn’t welcomed with open arms.  Emma doesn’t understand the instant hatred she gets from Kristin.  It may have to do with Anthony’s immediate interest in her but he’s not who she wishes were interested in her.  No that would be the gorgeous and aloof Brendan Salinger who bails her out with Kristin and then ignores her.  All of this could just be another day in high school, if it wasn’t for the strange dreams that Emma is having or the street lamps that keep burning out over her head.  She’s being warned to stay away from Brendan, if only she could.

My thoughts:

5 stars – a must read

Where to start?  The world that Cara creates is fabulous.  It’s not all full of paranormal characters but instead a very believable high school with one resident witch that is mocked and ignored.  There’s an air of mystery around Brendan that made me question how much he knew and when he knew it throughout the book.  Emma doesn’t believe in witches or ghosts but can’t deny that something strange is happening.  It’s very much an average (but very rich) high school but of course we find out otherwise.

I enjoyed the setting being in New York.  Having never been there, its fun to hear about that city.  I’ve read a lot of books lately that are set there and I love it.  The fact that they walk everywhere and the character of the city add so much to the book.

The relationship between Emma and Brendan is not the fall into each other’s arms from the moment they see each other but there is certainly a pull that can’t be denied.  The reason behind that pull is a sad and interesting tale that is expertly woven into the main story.  I love the growth that happens for Brendan and I don’t necessarily mean in his short life time.  The character of his soul spans centuries and the growth is made clear.  I came to love Brendan and I was so proud of his choices by the end of the book.
This book does have a sequel coming (maybe by April of 2012) but the end of this book doesn’t leave you hanging and crying to have book 2.  No, instead it has a clear resolution and gives you a hope to learn more about what happens to these characters.  I love that.  I’ve got so many books that I just need the next one in the series to be out now, it’s nice to have one that I can just look forward to without stress.

I really love this book and hope that you will give it a look.  It’s a fabulous paranormal romance story that you won’t be able to put down.  I read it in a day.  Enjoy the read.


 
I have declared for the Net Galley July challenge and this book is part of that.  Thanks to Net Galley for access to this book. Check out the challenge here.



3 comments:

  1. I enjoyed it as well. I agree about the ending being complete enough. I didn't know there would be a sequel (but I suspected it). Good to know. =) Thanks for the review.

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  2. I also really liked this book. I think anyone who liked Twilight will like this as well.

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  3. Awesome review. :) So far I love the book.

    http://syco4twilight.blogspot.com/

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