Author: Eva Marquez
Pages: 296
Format: Kindle
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. Sweetest Taboo is Book One of a contemporary YA romance series.
My Review
*****
*****
This story is a journey which is based on a real story. This is included within the authors note which was one of the things that pulled me in. The cover art was another. I love the cover and it screams out "read me." This book is based upon the love a teenage girl and her 30 year old teacher develop. Normally I wouldn't be interested in reading such a subject but I figured I'd give it a try.
Isabel Cruz, a fifteen year old student, joins the swim team and Tom Stevens, the swim coach, catches her attention. Isabel begins with a crush on Mr. Stevens and to those around her it's easy to see. She makes no attempt to hide her feelings towards the coach. Mr. Stevens slowly begins to return the attraction by doing small things such as holding Isabel's necklace during practice or handing her a towel when she gets out of the pool. At this point in the story I felt that Mr. Stevens shouldn't have approached Isabel because of his authority and his position.
Isabel's crush goes further and very quickly developed. Mr. Stevens begins his approach with Isabel by requesting she write him a letter with her feelings in it for him. Thus sparking their relationship. This is where the story really pulled me in. Each time they met up, I could feel my heart pounding because I figured they'd be caught.
Throughout the story, their love for each other grows and things become more complicated. I really enjoyed reading this from Isabel's perspective, which helped me see things through her young eyes. At first I was reluctant to read this book because of my own views of student/teacher relationships, but once I got into chapter three I couldn't put the book down. The journey kept me on my seat and kept me turning the pages.
The book is written well and it's easy to read. I enjoyed each page and I'm looking forward to reading the next within this series. For those who don't mind these types of books and is open to reading them... I say this is one not to pass up. That is why I give Sweetest Taboo 5 stars.
Isabel Cruz, a fifteen year old student, joins the swim team and Tom Stevens, the swim coach, catches her attention. Isabel begins with a crush on Mr. Stevens and to those around her it's easy to see. She makes no attempt to hide her feelings towards the coach. Mr. Stevens slowly begins to return the attraction by doing small things such as holding Isabel's necklace during practice or handing her a towel when she gets out of the pool. At this point in the story I felt that Mr. Stevens shouldn't have approached Isabel because of his authority and his position.
Isabel's crush goes further and very quickly developed. Mr. Stevens begins his approach with Isabel by requesting she write him a letter with her feelings in it for him. Thus sparking their relationship. This is where the story really pulled me in. Each time they met up, I could feel my heart pounding because I figured they'd be caught.
Throughout the story, their love for each other grows and things become more complicated. I really enjoyed reading this from Isabel's perspective, which helped me see things through her young eyes. At first I was reluctant to read this book because of my own views of student/teacher relationships, but once I got into chapter three I couldn't put the book down. The journey kept me on my seat and kept me turning the pages.
The book is written well and it's easy to read. I enjoyed each page and I'm looking forward to reading the next within this series. For those who don't mind these types of books and is open to reading them... I say this is one not to pass up. That is why I give Sweetest Taboo 5 stars.
About the 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 college, 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 with her young daughter.
More Books by this Author:
Tainted Love: A Novel (Sweetest Taboo Series)
Time After Time, the final book of the series, will be released December 2013!
