🍹 Margarita Reads: Tiger’s Curse by Colleen Houck

A sip of adventure, mythology, and breathtaking first love!

🐅 First Sip

I thought it was only right to start my book blog with one of my forever favorites. I still remember when I first found Tiger’s Curse — I was fifteen, getting ready for a summer vacation, and packing as many books as humanly possible (you know the struggle).

Everyone told me not to take this one to the beach, but the moment I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. I devoured it in a few hours… and then immediately started rereading. To this day, I revisit it every summer — it’s just that kind of book. Lush, romantic, magical. It swept me away.

So let’s dive in.

Kelsey Hayes never expected her summer job at a circus would land her in the heart of an ancient curse. But when she meets Ren — a white tiger who’s actually a cursed Indian prince — everything changes. Whisked away to India, Kelsey is pulled into a vibrant world of temples, prophecies, and powerful magic. As she dives deeper into the myths of a land she’s only dreamed of, she finds herself torn between duty and desire, bravery and heartbreak.

To break the curse, she’ll have to risk everything — including her heart.

🍸 Sip or Skip?

This book is a dragonfruit margarita on a velvet night — exotic, romantic, a little wild, and totally unforgettable. It gave me Indiana Jones vibes, magnetic attraction, and a journey that somehow felt both massive and intimate.

My verdict: 🥂 Sip-worthy — and keep pouring. I will go with sweet.

🧩 How did it taste for you? 🥭 Sweet | 🌶 Spicy | 🍋 Tart | 🧊 Chill | 💦 Too watered down

🧠 Margarita Moments

What still amazes me about Tiger’s Curse is how magical realism blends with deep emotional pull. It isn’t just a story about breaking a curse — it’s about destiny, sacrifice, and the slow-burn power of first love.

Kelsey isn’t a perfect heroine, and that’s exactly why she’s so relatable. She doubts herself, questions her place in the story, and still chooses bravery. She’s scared — of leaving the country, of facing impossible tasks, of trusting someone who feels like he belongs in a legend, not real life. But she leans into that fear, and that’s what makes her arc so powerful.

And then there’s Ren — mysterious, charming, and completely swoon-worthy. But beneath all that confidence, there’s a deep vulnerability too. He’s been trapped in tiger form for centuries, cut off from the world and from human connection. Kelsey is the first person who truly sees him, and through her, he begins to feel human again. The way he speaks to her, the way he respects her choices even when she pushes him away? Ugh. It’s that kind of romantic tension that makes you root for them and feel every unspoken moment. Their bond builds slowly, with hesitations and longing and that irresistible “should I or shouldn’t I?” pull.

And I can’t forget Mr. Kadam — one of the most quietly powerful parts of the story. He quickly becomes a mentor and a father figure to Kelsey, something she never really had since losing her parents at a young age. While she did have a lovely guardian family, Kelsey always felt just a little out of place — like something was missing. Mr. Kadam fills that space not just with kindness, but with history, wisdom, and steady love. His presence adds emotional depth and gives me so much comfort as a reader.

What struck me most is how much heart this book has. Kelsey isn’t just fighting to

break a curse—she’s learning what it means to trust, let herself care, and accept that sometimes love means risking heartbreak.

Looking back, it stuck with me because it wasn’t just about breaking a curse—it was about breaking through fear and discovering wonder.

Also? Colleen Houck made India feel like a dream I could walk through. The sensory details are breathtaking — I could feel the jungle heat, see the temple carvings, and practically hear the hum of the streets and the sacred stillness of hidden ruins. It didn’t just feel like reading; it felt like traveling.

💬 Reader question: If you were Kelsey, would you have stayed with Ren from the beginning, or held back like she did?

🎶 Pair It With...

🎵 Song: “Saturn” by Sleeping at Last. It’s tender, epic, and steeped in wonder. Like falling in love in a world made of magic, curses, and ancient prophecy. Ren and Kelsey’s journey — emotionally and spiritually — is right here in every note.

🎬 Movie: The Mummy (1999) Hear me out: cursed royalty, ancient magic, epic travel, a flirty duo with sizzling tension, and a girl who stumbles into something way bigger than herself. It’s the chaotic, adventurous soulmate of Tiger’s Curse. Colleen Houck does have a series of Egyptian mythology if you want to know more about her world.

Drop your recs below! What music or movie do you pair with this story?

🍒 Best Garnish

“The path to breaking the curse lies not in power, but in the heart.”

That moment captured the soul of the story — that this wasn’t just about magic or fate, but about courage, sacrifice, and the choices that define us.

It reminded me that even the most epic journeys are shaped by the quietest moments of bravery.

🦉 Final Thought

Tiger’s Curse is more than a love story — it’s a passport to a world of Indian mythology, hidden temples, sacred quests, and jaw-dropping magic. It made me feel like I was part of something ancient and epic. The adventure, the legends, the lushness of every scene — this book doesn’t just take you somewhere else, it transports you.

Wrapped in silk, stories, and tiger stripes — this one will always have a piece of my heart.

🔮 Pour the Next Round...

Next up: a cheerleader, a goth, a dreamworld stitched from Poe’s darkest tales. Reality’s unraveling — and so is her heart. 🖤Can you guess the book?