Review: Tainted Love by Eva Marquez

I cannot freaking believe that I read this entire book only to realize that it ends on a freaking cliffhanger! So a little warning for all of you out there expecting to read about that happily-ever-after between Tom and Isabel… Yeah, not happening. After reading and really enjoying the first book (Sweetest Taboo) I was more than ready to dive into this book and see what the future had in store for these two love-birds… Yet had I known beforehand that the second book ended the way it did, there is no way I would have continued on with the series.

For starters, this book was a huge disappointment in comparison to its predecessor. …The main reason why? The heroine, Isabel. I don’t think I’ve ever been more frustrated with a character in all of my life. I knew going into this series that she would be a lot more immature than the hero Tom since they had such a significant age difference between each other, and in the first book it was understandable… After-all, she was still a teenager in high school. …But her actions in this book once she had graduated and went to college, were just completely unacceptable. It was as if the older she got, the more immature she got and it grated on my nerves to no end. I just felt like her character was projected in such a negative light which made it really difficult for me like her- In fact, after reading this book and getting a little more insight into her thoughts and feelings, I’m not sure if I even want Izzy and Tom to get their happy ending. Her actions and some of the choices she made throughout this novel made her seem completely undeserving of his faithful love.

In this book, we finally got to hear Tom’s point of view. Not knowing how he felt about Isabel in the first book just made the relationship seem a bit one-sided for me... Yet after finally getting the chance to hear his thoughts on things, I was finally able to see how deep his love for Isabel really did run. However, getting to know the background of his past and finding out even more about his character and the type of man he is only made me worry that if he ever does find that happy ending with Isabel, he’d only be settling once again. I will say this though: While I commend his character for many things, I also feel like he’s a total pushover… His marriage being proof of that. It’s not something that I’d typically consider an attractive quality which could be a big reason why I just feel so meh about him.

…Another thing that drives me up the freaking wall in my books? Constant inner monologue. …I just can’t take it. Occasionally is okay- But when it takes the place of actual conversation and I start to feel like I’m reading a book based on thoughts rather than interaction, then it becomes a big issue for me. For example: This book. I felt like I was reading page after page of wish-washy thoughts and it literally drove me insane. On top of that, the lack of communication between the hero and heroine was absolutely absurd. I’m a woman… Therefore I can totally understand hesitancy and self-doubt when it comes to discussing feelings- But Isabel did nothing but keep lies, infidelity and secrets from Tom yet at the same time constantly questioned his faithfulness and devotion to her- It was hypocrisy at its finest ladies and gentleman, and not a pleasant thing to read about.

I’ve never read a romance novel where I found myself not rooting for the hero and heroine to end up together in the end; It’s just never happened… Until now. Perhaps I’d feel differently after reading the final book in this series, but after finishing this one I don’t plan on even bothering with the concluding book. If you’re a fan of constant inconsiderate, childish and selfish behavior from your heroines, as well as relationships based on absolutely no trust or communication, then by all means this is the book for you. …With that being said though, I want to make it clear that I’m not saying that the love that these two characters share isn’t genuine or real- And to be fair, I probably shouldn’t judge anything too harshly before reading the next book and finishing the entire completed story as a whole first. …But since I don’t have any future plans to read the next installment to the series, let’s just say that my last impression wasn’t that impressive.