Thursday, June 23, 2011

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

................................................................................................................

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
................................................................................................................

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
................................................................................................................ 



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!

................................................................................................................ 





31 comments:

  1. Aww!!! Thank you so much for being part of this tour. Your review is truly wonderful and I'm so very glad you picked it up and got spellbound just like us... !!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, I just love how you describe this book! You got me wanting to read it soooo bad! :) Thanks for introducing this amazing book to me, I love stories that deal with destiny and curses.. sounds like something I would very much enjoy!

    Hugs! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the giveaway! I have this book on my to read list and it would be awesome to read it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great review. Better than mine that posted today. Stop by if you get a chance www.bookgoonie.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great review! I really enjoyed this book. It was such a fun read. I love that they were fated to be together and the centuries of history they had together.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This book is on my tbr list, since I got the egalley from NetGalley. I'm glad you liked it; hopefully, I will as well.

    My concern is that text message. On the one hand, I love the reference. On the other hand, oh my goodness the cheesy. I'll find out how I feel when I get there!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm so very glad you enjoyed it. I've been very curious to see how this one turns out!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I really can't wait for a chance to read this book! I'm glad to hear that there were scenes that made you laugh out loud as well! Nice review :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have to be honest... I wasn't one to want to read it either. However, after seeing so many good reviews I have become very curious about this book!

    ReplyDelete
  10. 5 outta 5! I always love a book set in New York

    Their text messages are so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love books that have plenty of funny scenes that make you laugh out loud. Thanks for the rec.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've read a lot of reviews and have only been hearing good things about this book. I can't wait to read it! Thanks for sharing your review and for hosting the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sounds really good. Thanks for taking the time and sharing your thoughts. Looking forward to reading it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love it when I book I wasn't planning on reading turns out to be great! I can't wait to read this one.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Awesome review, been hearing some amazing things about this book. Looking forward to reading it.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for a wonderful review. It sounds like something I'd like to read. :D

    ReplyDelete
  17. -Thanks for the review! I really want to read this book. :]

    x
    Sierra

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great review! Now I want to read this book even more! :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great review. I really love the cover of this novel and am excited for the release date!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thank you so much for your review. I've heard so many wonderful things about "Spellbound", I can not wait to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I also received an ARC for review and LOVED it. The characters are all so wonderful and well developed!! :)

    Kris S

    ReplyDelete
  22. Awesome review! I've wanted to read this since I first heard about it and now I want to even more.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks for the awesome Review...Love these tours...great way to find a super book to read!!

    GFC Michele Luker

    ReplyDelete
  24. Such a great review! I appreciate that have such a great overview of the book. It is hard sometimes to write a great review without giving away spoilers, but you managed to intrigue me enough without giving anything away!

    This book is definitely added to my TBR list.

    - Elisquared

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow I love your review. I haven't heard much about this book & I am super interested now. Emma & Brendan sound like a couple I will love!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I've been hearing tons of good things about Spellbound. Can't wait to read it!
    andreat78@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Aw, this sounds like an awesome book! I love the idea that Emma has a past life that's coming back to affect her. It'll be interesting to see what happened in that past life.

    And of course, I always love a good love story :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. This book is definitely on my tbr list and I've heard good things about it! Thanks for having this contest!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Great review, this sounds like such a good book and a great love story

    ReplyDelete
  30. Great review! I'm quite excited for this book and a good romance. And I like what you mentioned about the curse!

    ReplyDelete
  31. this book sounds pretty amazing! I hope to get my hands on a copy in the future, thanks :O}

    ReplyDelete