A Novel Idea: Tantalize

I had fun with all but the last bit of this book.

Really, it was hilarious in parts, heart-wrenching in others. It was fun.



Set in Texas, Cynthia Leitich Smith's Tantalize features Quincie Morris (named for the Texan hero of Stoker's novel: Dracula) is setting up her family's Italian restaurant with a vampire twist at the request of her guardian, Uncle Davidson, and his creepy girlfriend, Ruby.

As if the stress of restaurant management is not enough for a teenage girl, she has to deal with her true love (Kieran), a half-werewolf/half-human, leaving her forever to join a pack. If he doesn't go, his life will be in danger as he lives unprotected in a world that fears him.

Quincie is devastated when her longtime friend and confidant--not to mention chef at the restaurant--is brutally murdered only weeks before the reopening of Sanguini's.

The new chef is creepy, but also friendly and fun to be around. Quincie finds herself oddly drawn to him...

And then it all goes horribly wrong. This book will be a must for the Twilight fans among us. But frankly, it creeped me out.

I guess you could say the whole scenario left a bad taste in my mouth.

I know, sorry. Couldn't help the vampire restaurant related quip.

Give it a go if you miss Twilight and long for a vampire/werewolf romance that isn't a carbon copy of the Meyer's books. But if you shy away from the darker side of fantasy like me...read Susan Cooper instead.