

She continued her education at Loyola University-Chicago where she received her Master’s of Science degree in Industrial Relations while working for a manufacturing company creating diversity programs for their employees. Simone went to the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign and received her Bachelor’s of Science there in Psychology in 1992. Simone was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, where she still lives today. Simone is especially proud of the fact that the Illinois Association of Teachers of English named her Author of the Year.

Simone also won the coveted RITA award from the Romance Writers of America for her book Perfect Chemistry. Simone’s books have won many awards including being YALSA Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, being named to the YALSA Popular Paperbacks and Teens Top Ten lists, and added to the Illinois “Read for a Lifetime” Reading List.

When Chuy reveals a disturbing secret about Luis's family, the youngest Fuentes finds himself questioning everything he's ever believed to be true.Simone Elkeles is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of novels for teens. Getting Nikki to take a chance on a south sider is Luis's biggest challenge, until he finds himself targeted by Chuy Soto, the new head of the Latino Blood. Then she meets Luis at Alex's wedding, and suddenly, she's tempted to break all her rules. Her parents may be from Mexico, but as a doctor's daughter, she has more in common with her north-side neighbors than the Latino Blood at her school.

Nikki Cruz lives her life by three rules-boys lie to get their way, don't trust a boy who says "I love you," and never date a boy from the south side of Fairfield. But that didn't stop him from taking risks-whether he's scaling a mountain in the Rockies or dreaming of a future as an astronaut, Luis can't stop looking for the next thrill. Luis Fuentes has always been sheltered from the gang violence that nearly destroyed his brothers' lives. The third book in this New York Times bestselling series-an urban twist on a star-crossed love story
