Book Review: Spellbound

Spellbound
Author: Cara Lynn Shultz
Pages: 384 pgs
Reading Level: YA
Release Date: June 28th 2011
Review Source: Harlequin Teen
Available: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Borders

Summary: (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.

Where to begin with Spellbound. The cover since its the first thing you see when you pick up the book. At first my thought were it was a simple cover. Tons of black and a partial bridge gave its a mysterious feel to it. Then you read the book and stare at the cover and go "It's Perfect!" The designer couldn't have gotten it any more exact. The glass shards and the lamp post, while Emma is running. Sometimes its takes starting the book to see the whole picture. 

Spellbound is actually the perfect word to use to describe the book itself. Debut Author Cara Lynn Shultz writes in such a detailed manner, I always felt very connected to the story and its surroundings. You get drawn in from the beginning with the tale of this poor girl that has been thru so much and then finally after something else almost tragic happening to her she moves to New York with her aunt. You can identify with Emma the main character, she has those quirky habits most of us have or had at some point in our lives. Now that being said she is not a push over and will speak up when its called for. She will defend her family, even if its with the biggest bully of them all. She does though have insecurities like any normal teenage girl at that age. She questions how Brendan might be interested in her. I will quote how Cara describes Brendan when Emma sees him dressed for a dance "He looked incredibly, ridiculously, smack-yourself-in-the-face-he-can't-be-real hot." So you see why Emma questions if she seriously has a chance with him. 

Of course Spellbound is not just about teenage love, there is actually a very old curse that lurks in its pages. Emma wears this unique necklace that her deceased twin brother gave her. Emma has always thought that this was a very common piece of jeweler you can buy any where.Then she finds a picture of the same item she is wearing in Brendan's locker. She wonders why he would have a picture in his locker. Then of course you have exploding lamppost while she takes her jogs, this all put together gets Emma curious. She ask her best friend regarding the necklace. Well lets just say a very old legend or curse is discovered and everything starts to unrattle for Emma. Will Emma accept everything she has figured out? Will her relationship with Brendan survive, Will she pass Latin? 

Well you know my style of review, I don't give the story away. I give you hopefully enough to want to go out and buy the book the day its released. So have I ever steered you wrong? Great book full of romance and mystery with your hint of magic.