From goodreads: “My name is Isabel Cruz, and I’m nineteen years old, almost twenty. I go to Lincoln University where I’m majoring in English. I’m a straight-A student, and I know what I’m doing with my life, but things weren’t always that way. Or rather, I’ve always known what I wanted, and it just hasn’t always gone along with society’s views. In high school, I had an affair with my swim coach. I wanted him, and I took what I wanted. We were together until I graduated, but he had a wife and kids, and I left him behind to come here. I left everything behind to come here. At least that’s what I thought.”
Isabel was never like the other girls at her school in the sleepy town of Hillside, California. At sixteen she fell in love with Tom, a married swim coach at Royal Oaks High School; their exhilarating and sultry affair continuing in secret for several years. Finally, Isabel realized that her own future had to come first, but even after relocating to Washington, D.C. to study at Lincoln University, she finds herself still wracked by guilt over jeopardizing the happiness and security of Tom’s young family. Now almost in her twenties and desperate to start a new chapter in her life, free from past controversies, Isabel will once again find that her beauty and precociousness will captivate another older man, this time a professor at her university. Confronted by this burgeoning affair, Isabel realizes just how deeply she still loves Tom and, in spite of the disapproval of her hometown community, her feelings become too strong to deny.
When Isabel returns to Hillside, reunited with Tom, she feels herself falling for him all over again, only this time with the tantalizing promise that things could really work out for them, especially since she is no longer the naive teen she used to be. But all is not as it seems; Isabel begins to hear rumors about Tom’s involvement with other girls at Royal Oaks High. Quickly this salacious gossip leaks to the local media and the authorities begin to investigate the claims. Only then does the true gravity of Isabel’s misguided choices begin to profoundly affect those around her and threaten to derail her life completely.
Tainted Love is the thrilling follow up to Sweetest Taboo by Eva Marquez, and rejoins Isabel Cruz as she tries to put her complex and forbidden romance with Tom behind her. Written from the perspectives of both Isabel and Tom, the irrational and desperate love they share is brought to vivid life by Marquez. Inspired by the conviction of one of her former high school teachers for sexual misconduct with a minor, it addresses a poignant modern taboo, one that is becoming increasingly common in the US, with unnerving insight and precision. Tainted Love is a must read for young adults, their parents and all fans of romantic fiction.
Eva Márquez has simply out-done herself with Tainted Love and if I loved the first book in the series, Sweetest Taboo, I love this one even more. This story is so beautifully written, describing all the angst and the love that has never died between Isabel and Tom. Tainted Love is a captivating and heart-breaking story about love and if it’s built on a fragile foundation of trust, the relationship might not survive. This is that story.
The story picks up where it left off in Sweetest Taboo and Isabel is no longer a minor. She’s a freshman in college and has blossomed into a young woman. When she reunites with Tom all the familiar feelings of love overwhelm them both, reminding them that their feelings are still very much alive. And as the story progresses, white lies become deception and appearances become an illusion. Not to mention, Tom’s reputation catches-up with him regardless if the evidence is accurate or not.
One of the many things I loved about this book is that I was privy to Tom’s thoughts because of the alternating POV between Isabel and Tom. This answered a lot of the questions I had in the first book and this allowed me to develop stronger feelings him and not judge him too harshly. Tom is a complex character filled with depth, we learn why he married in the first place; I’m not saying they were smart choices but I understood him more because of those choices. Isabel is equally as complex, if not more. I’ve always understood her behavior but this time I did struggle with it because ultimately her immaturity left me speechless. If I could reach through the book and shake her I would have.
I was an absolute mess reading this book because I was stressed-out the entire time. A new love interest is introduced, Marcus. I prefer not to comment too much on him as I could potentially give away some of the plot but he’s not someone I care for in the least. It’s safe to say that I despise him! But as Isabel discovers in spreading her wings, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side and realizes just how wonderful Tom truly is. Once she comes to that realization she also knows that her relationship with Tom is still a dirty secret which places a huge strain on their relationship.
Not only does Eva Márquez weave the alternating POV of Isabel and Tom seamlessly but she created a brilliant story that is tangled with deception and half-truths. She allows the reader to experience their relationship from a different perspective. This is the type of book that will generate discussions upon discussions and if you haven’t read this series yet, you are missing out big time!
My final two cents: A brilliant story about love, doubt and the unfortunate circumstances when outside influences are involved.
Wow, Christina! That is an amazingly well-synthesized summary of Sweetest Taboo and Tainted Love, as well as a very flattering and glowing review of my debut series (am still blushing!). Thank you for supporting my nascent literary work and for spreading the word about my new series. Muchos abrazos, Eva
THANK YOU for stopping by! My review doesn’t do your book or series justice!!! I can’t wait for book 3!