Waiting on Wednesday: Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3) by Simone Elkeles

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I have to admit that I am utterly entranced by Simone Elkeles' work. Chain Reaction is the third book in the Perfect Chemistry series staring the scrumptious Fuentes brothers. Scheduled for an August 16, this book will wrap up the trilogy. Read all about the youngest Fuentes brother's behavior.

Luis Fuentes is a good boy who doesn't live with the angst that his big brothers, Alex and Carlos, have always lived with. Luis is smart, funny, and has big dreams of becoming an astronaut. But when he falls for the wrong girl, Luis enters a dark world he's never known, and just when he thinks he's got life all figured out, learns some disturbing news about his family that destroys his positive outlook on life. Will that Fuentes bad boy streak come out with a vengeance and lure Luis to live on the edge like his new girlfriend and his own father?


From Goodreads

While Alex & Carlos are scrumptious in that "bad boy" way, Luis was also so sweet & kind in that goody-goody way. It's not that he's squeaky clean, but compared to his shady older brothers, this boy is practically a saint. I'm really interested to see what kind of trouble this girl will get him into & what family news will rock this world. Hopefully the older brothers will make an appearance in this finale!

What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3) by Simone Elkeles

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Potential mild-spoilers may follow if you haven't read Perfect Chemistry. Be sure to check my review of that here before continuing. Just in case.

Carlos Fuentes likes to think he is nothing like his brother Alex. Carlos is tougher, is taking better care of the family in Mexico than Alex did in Chicago, and Carlos is a one-man show with no extra baggage to worry about. So then why is it so hard for Carlos not to follow in Alex's footsteps.

After getting in trouble with the local gang in Mexico, Carlos is sent to Alex in Colorado to be straightened out and finish up his last year of high school. Carlos of course has no intention of listening to his brother's warnings and decides to continue living his life on the edge and doing whatever makes his feel numb. Unfortunately those activities land him on the local drug lord's radar. When Carlos is caught with a substantial amount of drugs, he's sentenced to completing an after-school enrichment program and living with a guardian, who just so happens to be Alex's former college professor.

The professor has a lovely home with a tea-house-running wife, a rambunctious six-year-old son named Brandon, and a frumpy-looking senior-in-high-school daughter named Kiara. Things are starting to look up for Carlos. As he continues to rebel and push those nearest to him away, Kiara dares to push Carlos back. She's certainly not afraid of him and manages to pique Carlos's interest. Too bad the local drug lord isn't letting Carlos go easily. Can he protect those he cares for without having to destroy everything?

This is the exciting second volume in the Perfect Chemistry trilogy starring the mesmerizing and scrumptiously yummy Fuentes brothers. While each book can be read as a stand alone novel, it helps to have read the first one for the back story that is referenced in this book. Simone Elkeles really knows what she's doing with this series. The characters are hauntingly accurate and enticingly fascinating. They are all very unique individuals with their own hidden talents. Believe me, there were a few surprise abilities that were showcased in this novel.

The storyline was along the same lines as the first novel with a change in setting and ending mostly. I found that, while basically the same, Carlos was more ardent in his need to prove himself to everyone than Alex was in the first novel, but the girls were opposites. Kiara was much more personally vulnerable than I ever imagined Brittany. Yet in a way, Kiara's vulnerability made her more accessible to the reader. The strength that emanates from the main characters is just phenomenal and something that I think more people should possess.

While there were a few plotlines that dropped off and left me wondering what happened to them (the obligatory mean girl went poof, etc) I found that they didn't bother me as much as usual because they allowed Simone to focus more on the important part of the story. A pleasurable read that I'm sure I'll visit time and time again, Rules of Attraction is a wonderfully pleasant book that I think fans of Sarah Dessen and Jennifer Echols will appreciate. Be sure to check out my thoughts on Perfect Chemistry if you haven't already.

P.S. I LOVE this cover so much. I really want a poster size version of it, but haven't managed that yet. Next on my to-do list after moving. :)

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Imagine "Grease" meets "West Side Story" and you've got Perfect Chemistry. Alejandro "Alex" Fuentes and Brittany Ellis are both quite perplexed when they are forced to be chemistry partners. He is a Mexican gangbanger with tattoos and a bad reputation. She is the white head cheerleader with a serious need for perfection.

Alex has Brittany pegged as a bimbo with too much money and not enough sense. After being challenged in a bet, Alex starts to put the moves on Brittany. With her relationship with high school football star Colin in the dumps, she doesn't mind playing with Alex's head a little. Neither of them expects the reaction that they create.

Being forced to spend time together working on their project gives them a chance to catch a glimpse into each others' lives. What they find out about each other not only gives them insight in to the other person's behavior, but it also gives them insight into their own lives. Things start to heat up in their private lives with an escalation that can't be missed.

Something in the way this book is written just absolutely sucks you in. The characters are very likable and relatable, while maintaining their believability. A big selling point is that this book is writen about a sunject that many teens can relate to. Gangs are a prevalent problem, but a "necessary" one for many teens looking to protect themselves and their families. This story takes a hard look at the reality of the danger, but also the hope that is always present no matter how hard the situation.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles