Spellbound Tour: Review + Giveaway

Title: Spellbound
Author: Cara Lynn Shultz
Publisher: Harlequin
Publishing Date: June 28th 2011
Length: 352 pages
Genre: YA, fantasy, romance
Source: Netgalley

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.

Summary by Goodreads

If it wasn't for Kismet Book Touring, I would have never read SPELLBOUND in the first place. Thank you so much Danny and Heather for organising the tour with all its fantastic features and stops and making me read one of my favourite YA romances in 2011!

The story of SPELLBOUND follows Emma Conner who just moved to New York city to live with her aunt. With several secrets in tow she has to face a new school and new enemies but she also gets the chance to meet many new exciting people.

One of them is Brendan Salinger, he is good-looking, smart and destined to fall in love with Emma. And their love feels just perfectly natural and sweet. Although they are destined to be together, their developing relationship didn't feel forced or constructed for one second.

Interesting about Emma is that she's the girl who has two pasts with secrets that start affecting her new life in New York. On the one hand she's got a in her small hometown. On the other hand something inside of Emma has once lived in the Middle Ages. Now both pasts circling around personal and familiar conflicts and strokes of fate seem to affect Emma and Brendan's love in a very dangerous way that could not only tear them apart but mean death.

I immediately felt attached to Emma and Brendan and it's not only that the couple has some really cute scenes, but other characters like her loyal friends or relatives contribute to a great storyline and extremely entertaining dialogues aswell. One of my favourite secondary characters is Emma's cousin, Ashley, who is such a sweet and supportive person.

Conflicts in SPELLBOUND result from fate and a curse laid on the lovers many centuries ago that still seems to affect them in some way. But it wouldn't be a YA novel if there weren't  also the prep school antagonists who can be pretty mean.

Shultz supports her fantastic debut novel with an exciting character cast, a great writing and the striking mixture of a fancy prep school, fashion and paranormalcy. I sense a few more mysteries and secrets being burried in the past that are only waiting to be reanimated in SPELLBOUND's sequel! 

1) of a cute note keeper
2) New York  combines style with spells
3) of loyal and supportive friends
4) of funny scenes that make you laugh out loud
5) of the best picnic spot ever

5/5 ***** SPELLBOUND- A bewitchingly hip romance set in modern NYC, that has been set into motion many centuries ago. You shouldn't miss that! 

Gossip Girl watch out, with SPELLBOUND a strong rival is on its way. The story around Emma and Brendan not only convinces with the realistic and all-day meanings of being a teenager and fashionista in New York City, but is also well-supported by engaging paranormal elements! I consider myself totally spellbound, xoxo Miss Page-Turner

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Grand I Pod Nano Giveaway

• In order to enter to win a iPod nano including the Spellbound Playlist and covered in a GelaSkin of Spellbound's cover art, you must collect the pink highlighted words the text messages between Brendan and Emma that are provided each day at the individual tour stops. The daily words can be joined together in sequential order to create the winning secret message. Once you've constructed the winning secret message, you will need to enter that message on Spellbound's tour home page .

• No purchase, affiliation, status as follower to a certain blog or any other association is required to enter.

• Full rules for the contest can be found at the Spellbound tour home page

• Winner of the iPod give-away will be announced on Cara's homepage on Tuesday, July 5th.

Today's text message

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To Win a copy of SPELLBOUND by Cara Lynn Shultz

• Fill out the >> FORM <<
• Extra entry for leaving a comment on my SPELLBOUND review and for tweeting about it!

• US/Can only

• Ends June 30th

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Please don't forgot to visit the other awesome tour stops!

June, 13th - The Page Turners / Character Interview , Brendan
June 14th - Candace's Book Blog / Guest Post
June 15th - Baffled Books
June 16th - Hooked To Books /Guest Post, Playlist
June 17th - Truly Bookish

June, 20th - Paranormal Opinion
June 21st  - Mission to Read /Interview with Cara
June 22nd - Reading Angel / Character Interview, Emma
June 23rd -  Miss Page Turners
June 24th -  Books At Midnight

June, 27th - Pure Imagination
June 28th - (Spellbound Book Birthday!) - The Unread Reader special Guest post
June 29th - Bookish Delights
June 30th - Mimosa Stimulus / Guest post
July 1st - writers write, right? /special Guest post

Tuesday, July 5th: Announcement of the big prize winner on Cara's Site!

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A huge thanks to Kismet Book Touring, Danny, Heather, Netgalley, Harlequin and Cara Lynn Shultz!