Title: Tantalize Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith
Publish Date: February 2007
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 336pp
ISBN: 0763627917
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Age Range: 13 and up $16.14
Price: $16.14
Amazon: $8.99
Annotation: Quincie Morris runs a vampire themed restaurant with her Uncle Davidson. Her best friend (and love interest), Kieran is a werewolf. When the new talented chef, Brad, enters the scene things get complicated.
Summary: Quincie Morris has lived with her Uncle Davidson since the death of her parents. Since the family business was left in her name, her uncle and her decided to re-model the restaurant, making it a fun vampire theme, since vampires seem to be expected in Austen, Texas. A month before the grand re-opening the longtime chef is mauled to death in the kitchen, making the suspect a werewolf. Quincie finds this to be a problem as her best friend (and love interest) Kieran, is a werewolf in training who cannot fully control the monster in him. A new chef enters the picture, Brad, and he is talented, spooky, wears red contact lenses, has pale hair and provides a interesting menus with titles such as Predator and Prey. Things get complicated for Quinci as she finds herself in a triangle of sorts.
Evaluation: Overall, I thought the book was thoroughly enjoyable with a entertaining premise of a murder in a vampire themed restaurant, a fascinating main character (Quincie, an orphan and restaurant employee who is in love with her best friend who happens to be a werewolf) and a shocking spin towards the end.
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness:
- Dealing with change.
- First love can sting deeper then any other love.
- Problem Solving.
Reason this book was chosen: I was drawn to this book purely due to the paranormal content of vampires and werewolves. I thought the premise was interesting in relating all of these supernatural elements with a family restaurant. I also loved the cover (sometimes an interesting cover is all it takes).
Similar Titles:
Tantalize (2007)
Eternal (2009)
