Blog Tour and Book Review: Tainted Love by Eva Marquez

Title: Tainted Love
Author: Eva Marquez
Series: Book Two in the Sweetest Taboo Trilogy
Published: March 5, 2013
Genre: YA/NA Contemporary

Book Description:

Isabel thought her life was on track – she was doing well in school, moving quickly toward her future, and deciding who she wanted to be. Best of all, she’d reunited with Tom, the love of her life. But it doesn’t take long for her history – and his – to start catching up with them, presenting a range of uncomfortable questions. Does he really love her? Are they meant to be together? And what exactly has he been doing in their time apart?

About this Author: 
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, daughter of European immigrants, Eva Márquez has spent most of her life outside of her home country. At the age of five, Eva accompanied her parents to the United States, where the family settled permanently. After graduating from university, she went on to complete graduate studies in International Relations in Spain. Eva received her Master of International Studies degree from the University of Sydney and went on to work in the global health field in Sub Saharan Africa and South East Asia. Eva currently resides in Southern Africa.


My Thoughts and Review:

I really am glad that I gave the second book in this trilogy a try because I really did like it so much better than the first one. Maybe because Isabel was older in this one and Tom no longer her teacher (or married) so the whole underage and sleeping with an authority figure thing wasn't there looming over the whole story and just screaming out, “this is so wrong!”. I don't know but either way I did like this story a whole lot better than the first one. Yeah the age difference was still there and a little hard for me to understand still but at least Isabel was an adult now with all that comes with being one and I felt she could handle making more grown up decisions for herself.

I think the fact that we got Tom's POV in this one really helped as well. I found myself actually liking him since I could really get a feel for his thoughts and feelings for Isabel.

I think the title of this one is very fitting, tainted love. Their love was definitely tainted. Full of suspicions, doubts, trust issues and insecurities, everything a good solid relationship shouldn't have. For two people who are suppose to be adults, they rarely acted like ones. So much could have be cleared up and resolved if only they communicated with one another and trusted one another.

I couldn't help by shake my head as I saw Isabel doing the same things she did in high school all over again. I mean, what was wrong with her? While I might have liked Tom better after reading this one, I certainly didn't like Isabel better.

This story frustrated me a little. I guess I was hoping for more, from both of them. I wanted to read about a love that knew no bounds and could conquer all, even nasty made up rumors and jealous feelings and honestly, I am not quite sure I got that or will get that.

It will be interesting to see how the last book all plays out.  

I give this one 3.5 Stars!

Title: Sweetest Taboo

Author: Eva Marquez
Published: Oct. 1, 2012
Series: Book One in the Sweetest Taboo Series
Genre: YA Contemporary

Book Description:
Isabel Cruz was fifteen years old when she met Tom Stevens. She was 15 when they started dating, and 16 when she lost her virginity to him. By the time she turned 18 and went to college, everything had fallen apart. This hadn’t been an ordinary love, though. Not a love between two dear friends, or even high school sweethearts. This had been the most taboo sort of love there was: a relationship between a student and her teacher. Isabel started her high school career as a normal student, but set her sights on Tom Stevens as soon as she met him, and pursued him with an intense – and sometimes reckless – fascination. When he finally approached her after swim practice and told her that he shared her feelings, it was the start of a forbidden and dangerous relationship. Join Isabel as she makes her way through this dark love story, hiding from teachers, lying to her parents, and defying the authorities to make a life with the man she loves. Watch as she discovers the wonders of love and romance, and the terrible betrayal of jealous friends. And cry with her when she learns the hard truth about life and the people in her world.Sweetest Taboo is inspired by the true and tragic stories of students who fall in love with their teachers, and live with the hard truths of forbidden romances. In a world full of after-school specials on sexual predators, this touching book seeks a different path, casting both student and teacher in a gentle light, and showing that true love may lie at the base of even the most illicit romance.

Purchase Links: Amazon/B&N

My Thoughts and Review:

I really dislike it when reviews are so hard to write. This time it isn't exactly because I can't find the words to express myself but more that this is such a sensitive subject. One I never thought I would agree with if I am being honest and while I still vehemently don't agree with it, I can see how it happened and maybe even appreciate the story that was told. If I can look past the age difference, the authority figures and the adultery, then yeah, maybe.

I don't want to like this book, I really don't, because it is wrong on so many levels and I am still not even sure I would say I like it or understand it even, but I do appreciate what the author was trying to convey, I really do. And I really tried to read this with an open mind and not be judgmental in the least.

I think if you can read this with an open mind and see the love story it portrays and nothing more, you will really enjoy it and appreciate it. That love happens in all shapes, sizes, and forms. Sometimes for the bad and sometimes for the good. Sometimes it is for all the right reasons and sometimes for all wrong.  

I give this one 3 Stars!