Zara's peaceful small-town life is rocked when a mysterious new neighbor moves in. She quickly gets trapped in an intense obsession for the elusive Dorian. As they interact, not only does Zara start to feel inexplicably addicted to his presence, but also becomes certain that Dorian and his cousin, Rita, have a closely guarded secret, and their move to Keizer wasn't a coincidence.
Zara is tempted to discover the truth about this enigmatic duo. She's also desperate to understand the peculiar happenings that have been haunting her since she met Dorian.
By satisfying her curiosity, Zara has put her life in danger. Now she must face the formidable consequences because what her neighbors really are exceeds her wildest imagination.
Meg Evans is a certified health coach passionate about wellness. Although she’s a hardcore gym rat, she likes slowing down and getting absorbed in a riveting page-turner. Meg is the author of Enthrallment, her debut paranormal romance, and the first book in the Enthrallment series.
When not writing, Meg enjoys a good conversation over a soy latte, and laughing until her face hurts with her friends.
Enthrallment was more than I expected. Meg Evans is now the 2nd supernatural romance author I have read. I am very pleased that NetGalley and Meg Evans approved my request to review this title in return for an honest review.
New neighbors move in next door. Something does not feel quite right. Zara becomes intent on finding out anything and everything about them. One lucky day she realizes she is locked out of her home and finds herself face to face with the man she has been spying on, Dorian. The woman he lives with, his cousin, or so he says. Zara cannot help but feel taken by him. Drawn to him. Still, something is not quite right. The more she pushes for answers, the more Dorian pushes back.
The character of Zara begins as a run of the mill student working her way through college. She lives with her Aunt Cynthia and her cousin Maddie, who took her in as a child (Cynthia was actually a close friend of Zara's mother). When the next door neighbor passes away suddenly, the residence is put up for sale, and it does not take long for new neighbors to arrive. Zara slowly becomes obsessive, maneuvering her way into the lives of Dorian and his cousin Rita. There are no boundaries, Zara will not allow it. There were many times I wanted to shake Zara. Many times decisions she made showed such negligence, or maybe naivety or ignorance. I don't know, but oh my gosh, may I slap her silly. Eventually, Zara wore on me and her quirky headstrong personality began to make sense. And Dorian? Love him or hate him, he is an amazing enigma.
Thanks again to NetGalley and Meg Evans. I am now waiting impatiently for the second book to come out. Please hurry Ms. Evans!!!
*I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I’m a big sucker for a good young adult romance – I have always been, and I will probably always be so. That being said, I don’t know if I’ve read a young adult romance that’s even remotely similar to Enthrallment. In the best way possible.
The book starts off very unassuming with an introduction to the main character, Zara, and her chaotic daily schedule. Within the first fifty pages, however, the reader is thrown into this intriguing mythos and a seriously steamy love affair. I couldn’t get enough of the book; I ran through the entire book in two days, with minimal reading breaks, and found myself rereading the last two chapters several times because I was devastated it was over. I fell in love with Zara and with her flaws and her ability to handle the situation she was put in. I also couldn’t get enough of Dorian, but I’m a big sucker for the mysterious bad boy type.
The ending had me wanting more. I know the book isn’t even released yet but I am already counting down the days until the second book in the series is released. Anyone who really enjoys romance will gladly dive into this fast paced, enthralling read.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a romance novel, and I’ve never read paranormal romance before, so reading Enthrallment was a lot of fun for me.
I didn’t realize until midway into the book how much of the story the first line foreshadowed—again and again I kept repeating it out loud to the main character, Zara. Let me just say she did not listen to me!
The fierce girl in me was composing my own ending (what I would have done if I were Zara!), but I’m going to have to wait as Ms. Evans leaves us hungry for more at the end. Fortunately she has book 2 in the works... hope I don’t have to wait too long!
***An eArc provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
My overall thoughts and impressions of Enthrallment are that this book is an intriguing and promising beginning start. The author cleverly builds a world that is full of questions and romance. After finishing this novel I was left in awe because of the many unexpected twists this story took. This is not a traditional tale because you are never quite sure of who to trust and many answers are not given easily or quickly.
I loved the moments of genuine surprise and curiosity that this story permeated throughout my reading, I am curious as to where the characters will go in future installments. I was swept away with this story and loved the main character, Zara and her unique relationship with Dorian.
The plot of this story consists of a college aged protagonist, Zara, who is inexplicably drawn to her new next door neighbor, Dorian, who she shares an instant connection to. This connection builds and grows thought their many interactions and everything hits a breaking point towards the end of the novel where the reader is left speechless with anticipation for the next chapter of this story. You are nervously anticipating where there relationship goes after the shocking cliffhanger.
The author weaves a creative story that is well balanced with mystery and romance. I would recommend this novel because of its interesting premise and multi dimensional characters that are not as they appear. This novel is full of many twists and turns and has me eagerly awaiting the next installment.
***An eArc provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
Zara is a 3rd year Uni student working part time at Walgreens. Also, Zara is a fan of horror flicks. Living with her Aunt, Cynthia, and her cousin, Maddie, Zara lives quite the normal life - except for her nightmares.
A couple (Dorian and Rita) move in to the house adjoining that of Zara & family. They are in their late 20's / early 30's .
One day, Zara is locked out of her house (forgot her keys) and Dorian is outside lounging on his porch. He invites her over for a chat. She becomes extremely, uncontrollably drawn to this man. Desire exudes from Zara for Dorian. Rita comes home and Zara finds out Dorian and Rita are cousins. Not husband and wife! They invite Zara inside their house and Dorian touches Zara's tattoo. Immediately, Zara is in extreme pain just from Dorian's light touch.
What????? And that's just the beginning...
Intrigue and suspense abound in this book!!! I literally could not put it down!
Many Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for a great read.
I loved this story it kept me on my toes from the beginning, and what I loved the most is that the plot unveiled as I read, I couldn’t fully put my finger on what was going on until things happened, and that’s one of the things that I loved the most that even when I tried I still couldn’t fully guess where this story was going so things were a mystery but also a surprise. I liked most characters to different degrees but Zara was my favorite character of this whole book with her graces and her flaws she was a very good main character who entertained me a lot even if she frustrated me from time to time, I loved that she had obvious flaws and wasn’t the “perfect and never wrong” kind of main character. I cannot wait to read what happens next in this story, is definitely worthy of people’s time, because it’s so entertaining, so good and it will definitely make you eager to reach the next page.
My favourite thing about this book is how it really explores the realities of being bewitched (or should I say enthralled? ...heh) by a supernatural creature. Zara, who is a funny, determined, occasionally truly idiotic, and slightly bratty (but I loved her for it) heroine, grapples with the knowledge that she is only drawn towards Dorian because of who he is - how can you really love someone when you know they're designed to attract you to them? (A question Twilight never really answered, imo...) But Evans gives us enough glimpses of Dorian's true character to make us actually root for them as a couple, even though it's clear they'll have to battle a lot more obstacles to ever have a happy ending.
I must admit that I'm still slightly mad at the author for that ending because I was FULLY engrossed in the story, but it just makes me all the more excited for book 2 :)
When I was reading the book, I had the impression that I was in the hands of an experienced writer who had the novel's plot well in hand and was adroit at presenting her characters and moving them forward. I was hooked: What the hell was going on? What were Dorian and Rita up to and how was it going to involve our spunky protagonist? This was good, solid writing that I enjoyed reading.
The plot is very tight and believable, within the rules the author has set up for this version of reality. A lot of what happens to Zara is hinted at but not revealed, so the reader is primed for the next volume. I especially like the tone of Zara's first-person narrative: she's a very believable and attractive heroine, with just enough naivety and pigheadedness to make her a delightful protagonist. Congrats to Ms. Evans on creating an exciting and credible paranormal romance with a tint of mystery. I definitely recommend it!
I received a signed copy of Enthrallment from the author, and oh my, what a treasure it is! I sat down to read a few pages over a cup of coffee and the next thing I knew, I was three quarters of the way through the book. Evan’s writing is captivating and full of cheeky fun. Something is strange about Zara’s new neighbors, Dorian and Rita Hatch. Entrapment follows Zara as she turns into a nosy, super-sleuth trying to figure it all out. She digs deeper with every question and ends up falling for the dark, and mysterious Dorian. The book keeps you guessing until the very end, and even then you aren’t entirely sure what is happening because it ends on one hell of a cliffhanger. I can’t wait to read book two to unravel the mystery.
A solid debut novel with an intriguing premise, Enthrallment kicks off the start of what appears to be a promising series! Though I can't delve into much without giving too much away, Zara is immediately drawn to her mysterious new neighbor -- just being close to Dorian brings her both a thrill and physical pain, and she finds herself unable to stay away from him. This intrigue, however, may lead to something far darker. If you're a fan of romance, the paranormal, and a bit of action, this is definitely a novel worth checking out! I have been given a free ARC copy of this novel, and have voluntarily left my unbiased review.
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. First of all let me say that I don't normally read books like this so it was way outside my normal reading experience. Having said that, I found it a really fun and fast-paced book. The main character is very likeable, so if you enjoy a little bit of romance combined with paranormal aspects, you will probably enjoy this debut novel very much.
This enthralling book absolutely gripped me from the start. Zara is inexplicably drawn to her new, mysterious neighbour and slowly learns that he is hiding something. I love how romance is intertwined with the paranormal aspect to create a well paced plot that will keep you guessing until the end. I cannot wait to read the next instalment by this fab debut author.
I was given an Arc in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 First off, this was a solid start of a series, the world is not what it seems and Zara is determined to figure out why. The cast of characters was dynamic and the plot constantly grew. I think readers of YA will particularly enjoy this!
I loved everything about this book. I loved the characters and the story. The author did a great job on this story and really pulling you into the story. I didn’t want to put this book down. I also loved the book cover as well. I would definitely recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
As always I enjoyed the book This one was a nice surprise. I thought it was beautifully written. The attention to detail, was great. The twists and turns this story took were unexpected and kept me on the edge of my seat. I never expected the outcome!
This book was not what I expected, it was even better. Meg has done a fabulous job of pulling the reader into this dynamic and enthralling (excuse the pun) story. It's well written, engaging and intriguing. I literally cannot wait for the next instalment.
This was my fist book by this author and I really enjoyed it! This book was well written and kept me on the edge of my seat! The ending wowI did not see that coming and I am so glad I gave this book a chance!
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a free ARC in return for an honest review. I’m a sucker for paranormal romance and so I was eager to read this one! The present-tense of the story jarred me at first, but I soon got used to it, and then I was sucked into the story—wanting to understand what was going on so much that before I knew it, it was over. The story balances on the uncomfortable knife edge of constant intrigue because there are more questions than answers, without descending into the too-many-questions territory where you become fed up.
The beauty of this story is that the very feeling of frustration and discomfort you experience reading the mistakes and failings of Zara is the same feelings she experiences in her own internal struggle with her love interest, Dorian.
My only eyebrow-raising moment was the cagey, too-vague opening dialogue between Zara and Dorian as it felt a little unnatural, but overall I absolutely enjoyed this story.
Enthrallment contains a premise I didn’t see coming (I had many guesses as I read, none of them correct!) and a cliffhanger ending that creates as many questions as it answers. I’m looking forward to the next instalment!
I was given an Arc in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this novel, but I was immediately wrapped up in the story. As Zara gets closer to Dorian and his cousin, things start to take a paranormal twist as Zara realizes something's not quite right.
I'm such a sucker for a mysterious next-door neighbor, so when Dorian was introduced, I was all about it! I was completely enthralled (it's okay, I cringed at that play on words, too) and cannot WAIT for book two!
Well I am going to be very honest here and I really hate saying it but here it goes anyway. I absolutely did not like this book at all at first, I was at 60% and still didn’t like it or know what the hell was going on. The author took way to much time getting to what was going on and the story suffered from it, she could have gave us a peek at what he was doing with them other girls to help us have a clue but no. When I finally started getting into the book and stopped hating Zara so much boom it was over in a second! Way to much making Zara look completely useless as an adult, childish, and stupid. I wish we could have the back story of her parents dying, why her family didn’t want her and how she came to live with her moms best friend who never mentions them. Did the aunt/moms best friend kidnap her the reason she is crazy strict and all that or what? I have no clue what this book was really about soon as the story was coming together it was over. Just way to much nonsense! But with saying all this I will be waiting to read book 2!
2 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I liked the opening of Enthrallment by Meg Evans, but by chapter two, I knew this was going to be an interesting book. I want to know more about Zara and her background. The chemistry between her and Dorian is enjoyable even though it’s dangerous.
The story was good. The only thing I didn’t like was how long it took Zara to get the truth out of Dorian. I feel like it could have happened a little sooner, but maybe it didn’t because of how dependent she became on him. The writing is done well and the characters are fully formed. I have an emotional response to their actions. There are a lot of unanswered questions I have about Dorian’s background and Zara’s family. I hope some of the mysteries will be answered in the next book, and I’m looking forward to reading it.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and am leaving my honest review voluntarily. I will be adding this review to my website EveHallows.com.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the number of great romance books out there to read, read Enthrallment: (Enthrallment Series, Book 1) by Meg Evans and If you think about it, “paranormal” and “romance” really go hand in hand: both involve concepts beyond the realm of pure scientific explanation. So it makes sense that “paranormal romance," a speculative genre that explores affairs of the heart, has shot an arrow straight through readers’ hearts and seen a major boom in popularity lately. Enthrallment is that rare novel that manages to be as intelligent as it is romantic. And it is fantastic fiction that those of us who usually prefer to stay grounded in reality can get caught up in. Plot is engaging from start to finish. Has many unique elements, no major holes, and a sense of focus. Setting is clear and believable. Timeline is clear and consistent. This is an incredibly detailed world, with interesting creatures, complex politics, and complicated family dynamics, all mixed in with elements of the mundane, ordinary world. There's terror and romance, adventure and personal revelations. It's complicated, and it doesn't resolve, leading directly into the next book, but it is wonderful. And it is clearly a well-planned story.
Characters are very relatable, realistic, interesting, dynamic characters. Even minor characters have depth, as do the relationships between characters. We meet many, many characters, with their own stories, personalities, creature attributes, and motivations (both benevolent and evil). They are all incredibly well imagined and outlined.
Overall , I loved it. It made me feel in all the best ways, and leaves me content and satisfied. Looking forward to read next by Meg Evans , One I'll definitely read again.
Three and a half stars rounded up to four. I'm a bit unsure of how I feel about this one. I'll start with the good. There's certainly plenty going on here. I will also say that this book, being the first in the Enthrallment series, is left of a cliffhanger. Not always my favourite way for a book to finish, but this one has left me wanting more. I don't know how it's going to play out and there are certainly plenty of questions left to answer. The attraction between our main characters Zara (short for Zahara) and Dorian is strong and intense. I don't know if they are going to end up together, but I think that they may. Overall, this was a good solid start to the series that made me want to know more. But, there were a few things that didn't work so well. The book was a little slow to get into, mostly because there is a little too much telling rather than showing and it slows the pace down before things get going. My other issue was that I really couldn't get my head around the way that Zara's aunt dealt with her. Here's a woman in her early twenties and she's being treated as though she's a teenager and a young teenager at that. I just can't believe that anyone would put up with that. I get the while your under my roof idea, but it takes it to the extreme. I can only assume that she's in some way involved in what's going on? Maybe it will be explained in a future book and make sense, I don't know. I did enjoy this book and I'd be keen to read the next one to get to the bottom of what's going on. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
* I recieved an Advance Reader's copy in exchange for an honest review *
Synopsis: This book is about a young girl called Zara who lives with her aunt and cousin in Keizer, after her parents pass away. She soon gets attracted to her new neighbour Dorian, who also lives with his cousin Rita. Ever since she met Dorian she experiences a lot of strange things happening around her including hallucinations and hearing voices. They both have a secret kept away from Zara, one that is grave and haunting. Who is Dorian and what is the mystery about these new cousins in the neighbourhood?
My two cents:
This paranormal romance novel, unfortunately dint work for me. Enthrallment is not my usual kind of read I definitely had to push myself to read this. The book really was a slow burn that at times I found myself losing my patience and skipping pages. Yet at the same time I was also racing through this book at breakneck speed. With me, it happens for two reasons: 1. When the book is so gripping and un-putdownable that I want to devour it or 2. When I get impatient with the plot/ get distracted or feel disconnected that I wish I could finish it already. (Because I hate to DNF books) Rating and recommendation: I wanted to give it a ⭐⭐⭐/5 . This book is the debut of a series and I am not sure if I will bother picking up the next book. But if you are a fan of YA and paranormal romance you can give this one a try . The book releases on the 3rd of August.
For those of you out there that love twilight, especially Edward Cullen, this will blow your socks off! It’s original and so much unique. But it has the note of danger that goes with Edward, only darker. The only reason I’m taking off one star is it moved slower than I liked and could’ve given us more answer than it did by the end. Some say cliffhanger but I thought it ended on a good enough note it wasn’t a big cliffhanger. When I say it moves slow it’s not necessarily slow, but slow with answers I wanted at at least half way. I love the build up of suspense but enough is enough. But the writing is SO good! It sucks you right in and before you know it, you’re halfway through! I tried finding this author online. There’s no newsletter I could find. Also, I messaged her on FB and never received a response. I’m hoping she’s just busy writing lol. I’m trying to stalk her, in a good way because I would love to know when the next book is out. The characters are complex and mysterious. I can’t wait to see where it goes.
When I was reading the book, I had the impression that I was in the hands of an experienced writer who had the novel's plot well in hand and was adroit at presenting her characters and moving them forward. I was hooked: What the hell was going on? What were Dorian and Rita up to and how was it going to involve our spunky protagonist? This was good, solid writing that I enjoyed reading.
The plot is very tight and believable, within the rules the author has set up for this version of reality. A lot of what happens to Zara is hinted at but not revealed, so the reader is primed for the next volume. I especially like the tone of Zara's first-person narrative: she's a very believable and attractive heroine, with just enough naivety and pigheadedness to make her a delightful protagonist. Congrats to Ms. Evans on creating an exciting and credible paranormal romance with a tint of mystery. I definitely recommend it!
💌Enthrallment: (Enthrallment Series Book 1) by Meg Evans is an engaging story which will keep you interested till the end.
💌The story circles around a small town girl named Zara who gets attracted ho her new neighbour Dorian. During the course of this time, when her interaction with Dorian and the cousin Rita grew, she finds out their hidden secret of moving in to her city and that's where the story took a twisting turn. The story will share the Zara's attempts to find out what are the hidden secrets of her neighbour because there are some series of unpredictable events happening with her.
💌Overall, Enthrallment is an intriguing story with lots of suspense and drama. It’s a very nice book to read and enjoy the thrills and mystery. Absolutely compelling read, I haven't read anything like this before and devoured it in one sitting. The plot is so unique and the characters very attractive and well developed. I can't wait to read what happens next.
Dorian and Rita have just moved next door. At first she and her best friend think they are lovers, but discovers instead that they are cousins. Zara is living with her Aunt Cynthia and cousin Maddie since an early age. Dorian is very attractive and she and her best best friend gossip about him. Zara is drawn to Dorian but doesn’t know why. One day she falls off her bicycle and Dorian finds her and takes her home. Dorian is a strange person, but the more he fends her off the more she becomes obsessed with him.
A strange story, but one that makes you keep reading. It does becomes rather wordy and repetitive at times. There is a build up at the end, but as it is book 1 of a series you are left with more questions than answers.
Don't read this book unless you're willing to commit to the series. It ends on a cliffhanger and at the end I still had no idea what was happening and all of the unanswered questions just left me frustrated. I didn't care about any of the characters and wasn't sure what I was supposed to feel about them. I didn't love them or hate them; they were all just annoying. Zara was irritating, petulant and immature. I had to keep reminding myself that these people were adults, otherwise I would think they were all teenagers by the way they acted. I didn't hate this book but it's not something I would recommend.