Tainted Luck by Cynthia Austin

The best word to describe Tainted Luck is “fun.” This book reads like a young adult novel, but isn't marketed as one. Perhaps that's because it's fun for adults to read, too.

It is a paranormal novel, but the paranormal aspects were not what I expected when I started reading. That isn’t the only twist in this story. There are other cases where the plot leads a reader in one direction then reveals something unexpected. I love surprises like that.

This is the story of Levi, a young, high school student who is infatuated with Stacy Klein, a “blonde bombshell.” But Levi’s interest in Stacy is thrown off track when Taylor James, a very forceful young lady, sits next to him in history class. This sounds like a plot we’ve all heard before, but it’s a mistake to think like that. Their infatuation triangle goes its own way.

The book is written from the point of view of Levi Kast. He has been blessed with exceptional athletic prowess, but is more interested in chess than sports. These dual skills affect his relationships with Taylor and Stacy, but are much more important to his relationship with his father. We get to watch Levi as the events around him push him to take charge of his own life.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys paranormal, high school novels.