Chain Reaction
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 next thrill.
Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules—boys lie to get their way, don’t trust a boy who says “I love you,” and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. Her parents may be from Mexico, but as a doctor’s daughter, she has more 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.
Getting Nikki to take a chance on a southsider is Luis’s biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis’s family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he’s ever believed to be true. Will his feelings for Nikki be enough to stop Luis from entering a dark and violent world and permanently living on the edge?
Can someone crack a window or something? ‘Cause this book is (sssss) hot. I was a little embarrassed when I read it at school, for fear that someone would glance at the book and be like, “What on earth are you reading Kristin?!” See how it sounds so much worse than it is? Chain Reaction is the third out of the Perfect Chemistry series.
Perfect Chemistry explained the hardships of Alex’s life, and Rules of Attraction told Carlos’ story. Guess what? There’s only one Fuentes brother left, and it’s the youngest, Luis. He loves nothing more than a good adrenaline rush. Luis does crazy stuff ‘cause he loves the feeling when pure adrenaline is the only thing pumping through his veins. Luis’ dream is to go into space, the ultimate adrenaline rush. But becoming an astronaut is no easy feat. Luis knows this, and is committed to his schoolwork, but that doesn’t mean he can’t have some fun with his life. He has crazy good luck with the ladies (due to his incredible looks) and attempts life-threatening actions on a regular basis.
Nikki Cruz is pretty much the exact opposite of Luis. After her old boyfriend, Marco, joined the Latino blood and crushed her heart, Nikki has been anything but willing with guys. Even though many boys show interest, Nikki doesn’t give them the time of day… until Luis rolls into town.
When the two finally get together, Nikki has one condition: Not to fall in love. However, Luis finds himself falling in love, and falling fast. For him, Nikki is the ultimate adrenaline rush and he would give anything to gain her trust. This becomes increasingly difficult when the Latino Blood rises from the ashes and comes looking for him. They’re hoping to revive the once powerful gang, and they want Luis to join. Can he and Nikki beat the odds?
I love this book. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Compared to Perfect Chemistry and Rules of attraction, this book was different. I loved how the rolls were reversed. Normally, it’s the girl who falls hard, and the boy who finds it tough to commit.
Don’t get me wrong, I liked Perfect Chemistry a lot… but to me it was too cliché. You know, poor kid in a gang falls for the rich chick. It was good, but the plot has been used many times before. I really liked the second book, because it was unique. Kiara (the leading lady) has a stutter, and Carlos doesn’t even find her attractive at first. But their similar whit brings them closer together, and it was fun watching them fall in love. But Chain reaction…. SQUEE!!! Plus, this book is full of twists! I was constantly saying, “Oh, no. Oh, no he di’nt.” (Insert head bob here).
I do have a disclaimer though. Like I mentioned before, this book is rather… steamy. If anyone gets uncomfortable by sexy, skinsy parts, I suggest you skim them.
The Recipe:
This recipe is easier because the story line has already been pre-baked.
- Throw in some adventure
- Drench it in exciting twists
- Turn up the steam and voila! You’ve got yourself one beastly read. Try not to squeal too loudly.
I recommend this book to whoever wants to read something steamy but doesn’t want to read those pervy romance novels. I would mostly recommend this book to girls, like a said earlier it’s a chick flick kinda book. But hey, if you guys like that kinda thing, that’s cool. I don’t judge.
Guest Review by Kristin.