Tantalize

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

The title is intriguing, the description fascinating. Werewolves, vampires, a vampire-themed restaurant, a love triangle...sounds like a recipe for an amazing book, right?

Not so, unfortunately. TANTALIZE does not live up to its hype, and I was deeply disappointed in it.

Quincie Morris, orphaned daughter of two restaurant owners, is helping her legal guardian, Uncle Davidson, with the transformation of their old family restaurant into a new, hip restaurant, guaranteed to attract the elite weirdos of Austin, Texas. It's going to be vampire-themed, with the appropriate decor, costumes, and menu.

Ah, the menu. What a problem. Five weeks before the restaurant's grand opening, their head chef is brutally murdered in what appears suspiciously to be a werewolf attack. Quincie and Uncle D hurriedly hire Henry Johnson (rechristened "Brad" as his vampire name), a nondescript, vaguely intriguing young man in his twenties.

Meanwhile, Quincie is dealing with the ever-potential fire of passion that never lights in her best friend, werewolf-man hybrid Kieren, who is studying vigorously to apply to become part of an official Wolf clan. Quincie has held a torch for him forever, but something always seems to hold him back, and it frustrates her to no end. Good thing Brad is always there, with his soothing words, delectable dishes, and offers of wine and...something more, perhaps? Quincie isn't sure.

Tensions fly high in the neighborhood as the restaurant opening approaches. Quincie and Kieren fight more and more as his date of departure looms ahead, the neighborhood is being terrorized by some murderer, and Brad's vampire costume seems to be missing something. It is not long, however, before Quincie realizes that having a vampire-themed restaurant may have been a very bad decision. In fact, it may be the very last decision she ever makes...

...Unless her own inner strength and love can pull through and save the day.

TANTALIZE is a hurried jumble of underdeveloped characters and too much action. Smith's attempt to probe into the highly popular genre of paranormal romance is commendable, but not anything too special.

Reader reviewed by the Dizzy

All Hail Ms. Cynthia.

The sweetest writer you'll ever meet. And also the spookiest!

Tantalize is delicously wicked! And Bradley, what can I say... love to hate him, hate to love him. The novel is great build up and flawlessy executed, though the ending left a little to be desired at one point. But then I learned Bradley hasn't had his last laugh yet. He hasn't had his big finish yet! The Tantalize crew will be back for sequels, so don't you fret if you loved the novel. Which makes the way the novel ended easier to swallow, and enjoy!

So to end the review...

And as a side note- I'd take the chilled-squirrels anyday Bradley, when and where?

;}

Reader reviewed by The Story Siren

Tantalize itself means to torment or tease with the sight or promise of something that is unobtainable or withheld. I personally cannot think of a better word to describe this dark fantasy!


Quince Morris lives in world that is a little different from our own. Not much different really, just this small thing about werewolves and vampires being real! But Quince isnt worried about that, her best friend Kieren happens to be a hybrid-werewolf. Not only is he her best friend she wishes they were more, but the fear of his "monster within" keeps him from returning her affection.


Quince doesnt have much. Her parents have passed away leaving her in the care of her Uncle Davidson, and her prized possession her families restaurant. Within weeks of the reopening of the now vampire-themed restaurant, all chaos breaks loose. The restaurants chef and friend Vaggio is murdered, werewolf style. Quince must now turn the new chef Bradley into Sanguinis prominent vampire , and deal with the fact that Kieren is leaving her to join a wolf pack.


As Quince becomes closer with Brad she grows farther apart from Kieren. And begins to suspect that Kieren has some involvement in Vaggios death. But once Quince finally realizes who the real Brad is, it may be to late to save herself or Kieren


This story "tantalized" me until the end, even after the story was over! I was captivated by Quince and Kierens love story, as well as the ongoing mystery of Vaggios true killer. I was totally thrown for a loop! I never saw the ending coming, it was totally more engrossed in the plot that I suspected! I really hope there is a sequel.

Reader reviewed by Natalie

If you like vampire and warewolf novels then, this book is for you.

This story is about a 17 year old girl named Quincy and her hottie warewolf best friend/love interest, Kieren. After the death of her parents, the family restaurant is given to her but since she is underage, her uncle is the one controlling the financial matters.

They are planning a grand reopening with a new theme: Vampires. Just a month before the reopening,the head chef is murdered in the restaurant's kitchen. Now, Quincey has to hire a new chef and plan a menu. At the same time she has to watch out for her life which might be in danger. Can she reopen the restaurant in time? Will she be able to find the murderer before it's too late?

Reader reviewed by Sara

"Quincie Morris has never felt more alone. Her hybrid-werewolf first love threatens to embark on a rite of passage that will separate them forever. And just as she and her uncle are about to unveil Austin's red-hot vampire-themed restaurant, a brutal murder leaves them scrambling for a chef. Can Quincie transform the new hire, Henry Johnson, into a culinary Dark Lord before opening night? Will he be able to wow the crowd in fake fangs, a cheap cape, and red contact lenses? Or is there more to this earnest fresh face than meets the eye?
As human and preternatural forces clash, a deadly love triangle forms and the line between predator and prey begins to blur. Who's playing whom? And how long can Quincie play along before she loses everything?"

I must admit, this book was a bit of let down to me. I expected it to be more like Twilight, but there wasn't much similarity. It still was a pretty good book though. Quincie is a good heroine, even I found myself a little confused about who was the bad guy at times... so its understandable when she gets confused a few times as well. I did enjoy it more than Blood and Chocolate (Annette Curtis Klause), but it just didn't measure up to Twilight (Stephenie Meyer)...

Reader reviewed by stella

quince morris is torn between two first loves. her hybrid lover friend since forever and her "vamp" resturant friend since the first day of school. who will she choose?

with the new openning of Sanguini's: A Very Rare Resturant and its brand new vampire theme, the death of her dear friend and chef, Viaggo and the begining of school, quince has a whole lot more to handle than she really can.

this is a confusing book but after you've passed teh first 100pages, you kinda get the hang of it. it takes place in a fantasy world where werepeople humans and vampires are real and all living together. its very interesting. i would recommend it to anyone 13 and older and anyone who likes dark fantasy books.