Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers’ lives. But that didn’t stop him from taking risks — whether he’s scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis can’t stop looking for the seguinte thrill. Nikki Cruz lives her life por three rules — boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says “I amor you,” and never encontro, data a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Her parents may be from Mexico, but as a doctor’s daughter, she has mais in common with her north-side neighbors than the Latino Blood at her school. Then she meets Luis at Alex’s wedding, and suddenly, she’s tempted to break all her rules.
If you’ve read any of the Perfect Chemistry novels, then you’re no stranger to the Fuentes brothers. Confident, attractive, alluring – trouble. Well, Carlos and Alex have tried really hard to shelter their youngest brother, Luis, from all that, but it seems that Fuentes boys are destined to meet trouble in one way or another.
Luis is smart – so smart he’s got plans to head to college, and then mover on to NASA. Then the Fuentes mover back to Chicago, and back to the coração and soul of the Latino Blood – the ruling Mexican gang in that area. And the LB wants Luis.
Luis is smart enough to know that the LB is all kinds of bad news, and he knows he should stay the heck away, but the Fuentes curiosity, the Fuentes arrogance and thrill-seeking nature prevents that from happening.
There’s a problem though, and she goes por the name of Nikki. Hot, firey Latina from the better parts of Chicago, Nikki was raised away from all the violence and devastation that the LB delivers to Chicago. Nikki and Luis can’t stay away from each other, but like every Fuentes before him, Luis doesn’t always make the right choices. When Nikki finds out he’s pledged his allegiance to the LB behind her back, there’s no way in hell she’s going stick around for the show.
And then Luis learns the shocking truth about his family that his brothers and his mother tried so desperately to hide him from. He realizes he doesn’t belong in the Fuentes clan anymore, and without Nikki por his side, he’s really got nothing left to strive for. He turns to the one place that is offering him family and brotherhood, and willingly allows the LB to jump him in – old school style.
When are these boys ever going to learn: you don’t need to hit rock bottom to get what you want; you don’t have to follow in the footsteps of ALL the men that came before you!?
Like both Fuentes boys before him, I fell in amor with Luis instantly. How could I not, what with that Fuentes charm radiating off of every single page? My coração raced and thumped dramatically as I entered his world.
He’s got the charisma of Alex, the passion of Carlos, and enough sense to see that he’s probably a little too much like his brothers sometimes. Where Alex’s stupidity was infuriating at times, Luis only incited feelings of sympathy when he made bad choices. Where Carlos’ outright confidence bordered on arrogance most of the time, Luis’ just seemed to know what he wanted – and how to get it.
The first thing I’d like to say about this novel is hubba hubba, look at that cover! It definitely qualifies as one of the most eye catching, tantalizing covers around at the moment. It leaves very little to the imagination, and not one part of me is sorry about that!
I’m a big fã of character driven stories, and Simone Elkeles really knows how to make her characters come alive. Her prose is flawless, her imagery perfect. The only thing I disliked about this novel was that it’s probably the last in the series. BOO!
Two very big thumbs up from a happy, satisfied reader!
Pages: 308
Publication date: October 2011
Publisher: Walker
Challenge: N/A
Rating::
Teaser Quote:
He pulls out a Glock from the waistband of his jeans, places it on the coffee mesa, tabela with a loud thud, and then looks at me with a stern, serious expression. “You want to keep your family safe, don’t you?”