Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles

Brain candy.... that's exactly how I would describe these books. Oh, and hot.  These books are definitely hot. Elkeles sure knows how to write a sexy lead and an exciting story that sucks you in for an evening of guilty pleasure. I greedily lapped it up in a sitting last night.

This story follows the youngest Fuentes brother as the family returns to Illinois. I had a little trouble buying the idea that Mrs. Fuentes would return to this city while her youngest was still so susceptible to the gang violence that plagued her husband and two eldest sons, but it was what it was and I moved past it.

I really liked Nikki and I loved her attitude, especially when Luis re-enters the picture for the first time.  The beginning of their relationship seemed a little rushed, but the passion of the whole thing made that easy to overlook as well. 

I loved reading about these two and how Luis fit in with his family that we've already read about.  I really enjoyed the sneak peak we got into Alex and Britney, and  Carlos and Kiara's lives.  It made me happy that while the older boys have "settled down", they still have that bad boy (super sexy) instinct and attitude that makes them so yummy to read about.

My favorite part of these books is the inevitable "we can't be together" fight that is always part of forbidden love stories.  Elkeles writes these so well.  I literally ache with the characters and feel the pain in the dialogue. 

So yeah, the writing and plot are a little cheesy and the end is a little rushed, but it didn't stop me from enjoying every page of this book.  A steamy romance, an exciting conflict and a little action = an awesome escapist read for a warm summer night. 

Rules of Attraction- Simone Elkeles

Did I love this book because it's such an important piece of literature? No.  Did the writing/story knock my socks off?  No.  Did I feel the need to run out and tell everything to read this book?  No.  BUT....did I blush a little while reading some of the super steamy make-out scenes and finish it in one guilty sitting? Hell yes!

As with the first book in this "series', Perfect Chemistry, this story is a total guilty pleasure.  A super fast read filled with hot guys (seriously... the sexy Spanish mixed in with the dialogue is HOT), and steamy lusty make-out scenes.  The story-line is engaging enough that I read the book in a sitting and loved it. 

The characters in this one were pretty interesting.  I really liked Kiara.... from her boyish wardrobe to her stutter, I really wanted her to be happy.  Carlos is just as yummy as his brother was, but I didn't quite fall for him as much as I did with Alex.  He was definitely more rough around the edges, and yet vulnerable too. And um, the car scene in the rain (see book cover)?  Ya... LOVED it. I did love Carlos' relationship with Tuck, whom I was very happy wasn't the typical over the top gay best friend.  I'm getting a little tired of that.  He seemed pretty real to me.

As cheesy as it is, I love the epilogues in these books.  For a romantic like me it's really cute to be able to peek into the future and see what happens with these characters. 

So, was this a great literary masterpiece?  No.  But I really enjoyed it and will definitely being reading the final Fuentes brothers story when it is released.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Well... this book was exactly what I've been looking for lately. A steamy read, with a good plot and likeable characters.
I love a good forbidden love story. There's something that just adds to the passion and emotion of the story when the characters go through an internal battle throw everything aside and decide to be with eachother, especially when it involves some element of danger.

Being the "bad boy" lover that I am, Alex was prefectly hot hot hot! I loved that he was deeper than you would expect the average gang banger to be and yet still had the tough exterior that made him so attractive. And the oy with the mixing of Spanish and English. HOT!

I thought for sure that Brittany was going to drive me crazy in the beginning, but she grew on me very quickly. You really do begin to feel bad for her and her situation at home. That made it easy to root for her and Alex. I think that it's her devotion to her sisters that made me like her so much. It showed the real depth of her character.

Among the other characters, I really liked Sierra. She wasn't the stereotypical annoying best friend and she was really there for Brittany and I like that. Colin on the other hand... I could have slapped him a few times.

The end was a little cheesy, as were a few parts here and there throughout.... but in the end this book sucked me in and I really really enjoyed it. It was a little guilty pleasure for some good weekend reading. I definitely look forward to reading Rules of Attraction- which, if the over the top trailer is any indicator, will be just as steamy.