Spellbound and Determined by Dax Varley ~ review

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (July 25, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1491060859
• ISBN-13: 978-1491060858

This book is also available as an e-book.

Publication Date: July 25, 2013

Welcome to Mimi's Charms & Enchantments - a New Age shop filled with magical merchandise and colorful customers. Cam couldn't ask for a better afterschool job. When a shady man in gray slinks in one afternoon, Cam is this close to calling 911. To her relief, he hurries away, leaving behind the nauseating odor of his cologne and a curious spell he's dropped on the floor. But this spell is not your average hocus-pocus. It's ancient, odd and promises Power Supreme - something Cam could definitely use to keep up her 3.9 grade point average. But the spell requires more than what's stocked on Mimi's shelves. And acquiring each item will take some heavy teamwork. With the help of her best friend, Reade, and Zach, the high school's resident genius/nerd, Cam can't lose...unless the Gray man returns.

My take on this book:

Cameron Harper's after school job is far from typical. She works in her  grandmother Mimi's New Age shop that sells magical potions, lotions anything that someone might need to conjure up a bit of good luck. Cam's best friend Reade is normally trying out the latest love potion hoping to snag Troy the new hottie at Milford High. Trouble is the spells normally never works, so when a strange man driving a gray Lexus comes into the shop and drops an old parchment that contains a spell for Power Supreme Cam knows it's the spell for her, and convinces Reade that it's the perfect spell for snagging Troy. Thing is the items they need to for the spell aren't sold in Mimi's shop so they  enlist the help of Zach, a nerdy kid who has a major crush on Reade. Collecting the items are the least of their problems though when the man in the Gray Lexus keeps showing up. Can the trio harness Power Supreme or will their plans fizzle? What about the guy in the gray Lexus is he dangerous or what?Reading  "Spellbound and Determined" by Dax Varley is the only way to find out!

I love paranormal fiction with a twist and this book really gives the reader that and more! "Spellbound and Determined" by Dax Varley has strong, yet believable teen characters whose personalities jump off the pages. Dax Varley takes the readers imagination into overdrive as we follow the trio of Cam, Reade and Zach along as they collect the items they need to achieve Power Supreme! The conversations between the trio were so funny as they found themselves in different situations I found myself anxious to see what they would get into next! Each character is unique and fresh. Reade was a bit prissy,often over dramatic  while Cam was totally down to earth, worried about her GPA. Zach was a brainiac  who had a crush on Reade. Soon though his character becomes so much more, and a surprising sweet romance starts to blossom. Dax Varley knows how to turn a phrase,with the unique ability to make the reader feel like they are on the same wavelength as the characters, I honestly felt like I was seeing things thru the eyes of a teen. A fun filled, fast paced read where the author weaves together plenty of action, suspense, mystery, and a dash of romance weaving it all together with a bit of magic to make for a laugh out loud read that I couldn't put down! A nice clean read that's going to  appeal to a wide range of readers young and old alike. 

Reviewed for Readersfavorite.com