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Plot Summary
The novel, Rules of Attraction is about Carlos Fuentes falling in love with Kiara Westford and the obstacle they face when trying to be together. He moves from Mexico to Boulder, Colorado to live with his brother Alex. After he moved to Colorado he enrolls in Flatiron High School where he meets his peer guide Kiara Westford. Someone sets him up to be busted for possession of narcotics. He goes to a REACH program for troubled kids and lives with Alex’s old college professor, Professor Westford whose daughter is Kiara. He gets a set of rules from Professor Westford.“First off, no drugs or alcohol. As you already know, marijuana isn’t hard to find in this city, but you have to stayclean per court order. Second, no profanity. I have a six-year-old who is very impressionable, and I don’t need him hearing cuss words. Third, curfew on weekdays is midnight, on weekends it’s two. Fourth, you’re expected to clean up after yourself and help around the house when asked, just like our own children. Fifth, there’s no TV unless you’re done with homework. Sixth, if you bring a girl up to your room you must keep the door open. . . for obvious reasons.” Carlos tries to prank Kiara by acting like he’s about to kiss her. They start to have feelings for each other. The two of them end up almost having sex, but Carlos stops it because he doesn’t want to hurt her: “I have to get out before I’m in too deep,” he says.

Carlos figures out who set him up with the narcotics bust: Wes Devlin. Carlos tries to fight Devlin’s gang because they threatened his mother and brother Luis back in Mexico but gets injured badly. “I struggle against them, but each punch to my stomach is taking its toll and hurts like hell. When a fist connects with my jaw once, then twice, then three times, I taste blood. I’ve become their damn punching bag,” he explains The character Carlos decides he wants out of Devlin’s gang because he doesn’t want his gang connections to involve the Westford’s and end up getting hurt because of him. After his decision he enlists the help of Professor Westford and his brother Alex. Professor Westford has one condition: “He will have to enter the military or go to college”. He ends up getting shot in the thigh while protecting Professor Westford. He decides to enlist in the military and make himself a better man for Kiara (“I’m goin’ to enlist. I want to make sure Kiara’s got a boyfriend who has more to offer than a hot bod and a face that could make angels weep”).

The novel ends with Carlos and Kiara married for twenty years and have three daughters. Professor Westford ends up asking Carlos to take in a troubled teenager. In which he gives him a set of rules. “Uno, no drugs or alcohol. Dos, no profanity. I have three daughters and a wife, so keep it clean. Tres, curfew on weekdays is ten thirty; on weekends it’s midnight. Cuatro, you’re expected to clean up after yourself and help around the house when asked, just like our own children. Cinco, there’s no TV unless you’re done with homework. Seis. . .” He couldn’t remember what his father-in-law’s sixth rule was, but it didn’t matter. Carlos had his own rule he wanted to make sure was stated loud and clear.“Dating Cecilia is out of the question, so don’t even think about it. Any questions?”

Character Descriptions
Carlos Fuentes is Alex Fuentes’s brother. He is described as tall, handsome, and has lots of tattoos. He is a ladies’ man. He falls in love with Kiara Westford. He was in a gang back in Mexico to provide money and protection for his family.

Kiara Westford, a tomboy, is different from any women Carlos has dated. She is Carlos Fuentes’s love interest and the daughter of Professor Richard Westford.

Professor Richard Westford, husband of Colleen Westford and father of Kiara and Brandon Westford, takes in troubled kids and tries to change their lives. He works with the DEA sometimes for psychological evaluation. Took Carlos in and changed his life. Was in the military. Lost his parents and little brother in a car accident. He was the only survivor of the accident. Was left on the streets and in and out of foster care. Helps Carlos with getting out the Devlin’s gang.

Wes Devlin, a “business man”, recruited Carlos Fuentes to join his gang instead of killing him because he need connection to Mexican drug dealers.

Alex Fuentes, a changed man, boyfriend of Brittney Ellis, and brother of Carlos Fuentes. Once a bad boy changed for his girlfriend. Going to Colorado State University.

Brittany Ellis, girlfriend of Alex Fuentes. She has a disabled sister who she looks after. Parents don’t approve of Alex which led them to break up but they end up getting back together after deciding to stay together with or without her parents approval.

Tuck is Kiara Westford gay best friend. Loves to torment Carlos.

Collen Westford, a tea fanatic, wife of Professor Richard Westford, mother of Kiara, and Brandon Westford. Opened a tea store Hospitality-Tea

Brandon Westford, a six year old kid, who looks up to Carlos and Kiara. Loves to play with Carlos and look up to him like a brother.

Nick, a drug dealer, who also uses the drug he sells. Planted the drugs in Carlos’s locker.

Ramiro Garcia, best friend of Carlos Fuentes, once dated Madison Stone

Madison Stone, a pretty girl, Carlos was once attracted to. Carlos and she almost had sex. Used Carlos to make her ex-boyfriend and friend of Carlos jealous Ram Garcia.

Destiny is Carlos’s ex-girlfriend. Carlos ponders for her time to time. Broke up because they didn't want a long distance relationship.

Luis Fuentes, a little brother, youngest brother of Alex and Carlos Fuentes. Known as the good son.

Mrs. Fuentes, a worried mother, lost her husband when Carlos was four. Had Alex at sixteen. Worries about her kids getting in danger.

Michael Barra is Kiara ex-boyfriend who broke up with her over text. Carlos and Michael almost got into a fight because of Kiara. Loves his hair..

Mrs. Garcia, a DEA agent, and mother of Ramiro “Ram” Garcia. Told Kiara of Carlos working with the DEA and her fathers involvement with the DEA.

Reception
Rules of Attraction received mostly positive reviews. This book is perfect stated “The dialogue is witty and realistic, the characters authentic, and the setting of Boulder, Colorado, is described in much detail” Also In this sequel wrote, “delivers a steamy page-turner bound to make teen swoon”  In This book is perfect view, “this novel will help to tear down these stereotypes in a manner that is both funny and genuine.”   Likewise, according to This book is perfect view, “Elkeles again demonstrates her understanding of teens. Also, In this sequel wrote, is compelling enough to engage teens. Disagreeing, In this sequel argued that “contrived and rushed, and minor character are not as well developed”

Style
Rules of Attraction is written in an alternating narratives. It is also notable for its use of “brother dialogue. . . infused with plenty of spanish, but clear in context.” Carlos and Kiara are the alternating narratives.

Major Themes
Critics have noted that Rules of Attraction deals with cultural differences do not have to be a problem in today’s youth.

Early Life
Simone Elkeles has been a photographer in fraternity and sorority parties, a diversity trainer and the owner of a manufacturing. Simone in 1992 went to the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and received her Bachelor’s of Science there in Psychology in 1992. While working for manufacturing company creating diversity programs for their employees she continued her education at Loyola University-Chicago, where she received her Master’s of Science degree in Industrial Relations. After finishing her education she went to work at her father’s manufacturing company. When he passed away, she became the CEO at age twenty-four. She learned about marketing and about business, instead of teaching her about writing.

Awards and Nomination
1.#3 in the top ten teen book of 2007 for her first book of How to Ruin a Summer Vacation

2.2010 Romance Writer’s of America

Writing Career
“Her writing career began in 2000 when she sold the company to be a stay-at home mom. Simone discovered the joy of sharing a book with a child. She was writing at night when her daughter was in bed. She joined the Romance Writers of America serving as President for the Chicago-North Chapter. She wrote historical romances.” “I was writing adult novels, and someone came to my writers’ group with an article from the Chicago Tribune. It told about a writer who made a six-figure advance on a novel with Hispanic characters. I thought, I need to make a living from this, too. I hadn’t sold any of my adult novels, so I thought I'd start writing for teens something different than I’d been doing. It was amazing because the novel just came out so easily. I thought, This is where I belong, where my voice is.”  “I didn’t learn to write fiction in school. I learned to write as an adult when I started wiring not for class but for myself. I taught myself to write by writing. I joined a critique group where people read their twenty page out loud, and other people critique it. I learned that what other people did wrong in their book was probably what I was doing wrong.”