Review: Beautifully Broken (Spellbound #1) By: Sherry Soule

Title: Beautifully Broken (Spellbound #1)

Author: Sherry Soule

Published: August 30th, 2011

My Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Goodreads Summary:

Thirteenth daughter. Heritage witch. Demon slayer.

They say every town has its secrets, but that doesn’t even begin to describe Whispering Pines. The townsfolk are a superstitious lot and the mystical disappearance of a local teen has everyone murmuring about a centuries old witch’s curse.

Sixteen-year-old Shiloh Ravenwolf is a heritage witch from the Broussard family, a family both destined and cursed. After she takes a summer job at Ravenhurst Manor, she discovers a ghost with an agenda. That’s where she meets the new town hottie, Trent Donovan. But Trent may be the next victim on the supernatural hit list, and Shiloh is the only person with the power to save him. Complicated much?

After receiving cryptic messages from a creepy wraith and frightening threats from a demon, Shiloh finally begins to understand the mysterious significance of the strange mark branded on her wrist. Now Shiloh must decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice to protect the other teenagers in town.

Unfortunately, for Shiloh, not all ghosts want help crossing over. Some want vengeance.

My Thoughts:

I received this book from the author in exchange for review.

Beautifully Broken was an amazing book to set the stage for Sherry's Soule's series Spellbound. It is full of everything you look for in an awesome YA book. It has action, witchcraft, romance (with only a little bit of insta-love), and a reluctant heroine, who by the end of the book I couldn't help but love.

Shiloh Ravenwolf, knows she is different from everyone else, she can see shadows, but, don't try telling anyone else that, the one time she told her Dad he acted like she was crazy and she learned to never mention it again. Shiloh is a heritage witch the thirteenth daughter in her family line, with untold power she doesn't even realize she has. Mysterious disappearances have been happening in her small town Whispering Pines and each child taken has been the oldest child of the founding families. Shiloh is determined to find out what is going on and save her and her friends from this mysterious curse. She wants to go to college to study architecture so when a summer job opportunity comes around where she could work with a famous architect restoring Ravenhurst Manor, the most haunted place in town despite her reservations she can't pass up the opportunity and Ravenhurst Manor has so much in store for her.

Shiloh was such a great main character, believable and real, which was one of the things that I loved most about her. In so many YA books I feel like some of the main characters are just so sure to jump into danger and go along with everything they are told without even thinking twice, Shiloh was reserved and questioned everything, including herself. It made me connect with her so much more because I could definitely relate. I am one of those people who would go running away from danger in the opposite direction no matter what my destiny was and although at times she may have wanted to do that by the end she accepted herself and her destiny with open arms. 

Shiloh's love interest was Trent Donovan, the hottest guy in town that had all of the girls around town talking about him. His dad and him just moved back to town after years away and they live in Ravenhurst Manor, Trent was just one more reason that Shiloh had to take that summer job, an opportunity to spend the whole summer around the hottest guy around, who would pass that up ( not me of course lol) Trent was such a perfect  character because he reminded me so much of your typical teenage boy. He liked Shiloh but, he was hot and cold, wanting to kiss her one minute and seemingly wanting nothing more than to be friends with her the next. Sherry made me him so lovable in my opinion, he was broken because of his past and as a reader I just wanted to be there for him and fix him up, he was so adorable and I loved him. 

Overall, I really enjoyed Beautifully Broken and I can't wait to continue on with the series to find out about how Shiloh comes into her powers and deals with her life. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good paranormal read and witches and demons. If you like a story packed with everything this one if for you!

Happy Reading!

Kristin