Thursday, April 25, 2013

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Title: Storm
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Series: Elementals, book #1
Publisher: Kensington/KTeen
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Source: finished paperback from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys; all the ones she doesn't want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They're powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life's at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming.



It's official.  I am in love with the Merrick brothers.  Which one?  *shrugs*  Can't I love them all?  Also.  I have officially lost my Elementals V-card to them.  And you know what?  The morning after wasn't awkward or embarrassing.  Those Merrick boys know how to treat a lady.  And they aren't bad to look at either.


I expected to like this book.  All of my friends who are more experienced with the Merrick brothers agree...these books are addictive, much like the brothers themselves.  And I agree completely.  I just didn't know how much I was going to love these boys with their supernatural abilities and all of the angst and drama that unfolds because of them.  As soon as I finished Storm, I wanted to pick up Spark, especially when I realized it was Gabriel's book.  But we have a schedule for this here read along, so I contented myself with the next novella...though I make no promises that I won't peek at Gabriel's story.  (I'll be reviewing Fearless, a novella from Hunter's point-of-view, on Short Story Sunday this week.)

So, about the actual book...that's probably important, too, right?  ;0)  Storm is baby brother Chris's book.  He was probably 11 or 12 when we met him in the Elemental novella, but he has grown into quite the young man...and he's also grown into his Element.  Chris controls water, in all its various forms, while his brothers each control one of the other elements:  earth, air, or fire.  I really like the framework laid in this novel, how the Elementals were explained and how these boys are at risk because of how powerful and potentially dangerous they are.  Thing is, if they weren't provoked, the only danger they'd pose would probably be to themselves as they come into their elements and learn how to control them.


But you know how it is.  People fear what they can't understand or control.  And so it is with the Merrick brothers.  The other Elementals living in town are afraid of what the boys might do.  (There's a history there, but that's the Merricks' story to divulge, and they tell it better than I would, anyway.)  The younger Elementals in town, the less powerful ones, continue to goad the Merrick brothers, specifically targeting the youngest one in this book, and tension ignites until one night, a completely average girl steps in, ultimately immersing herself in a battle she never knew existed, a war that will likely be waged for the duration of this series.  Though I have no doubt some of the players will change.

You want to know about the brothers, don't you?  Fine.  Michael, the oldest, comes off as an ass if you haven't read his novella yet, but I want to weep for what he's endured and sacrificed for his family.  Nick and Gabriel -- the twins!!! -- are identically hot, though one is scholarly while the other is athletic.  They both come off rather douchey at times -- Gabriel more so than Nick -- but the potential for nice guys is there, too.    And Chris, the youngest, is a sweetie but that doesn't mean he's not as tough or volatile as his siblings.  They are brothers through thick and thin, and they fight like them, too.  The banter between these guys -- and pretty much anyone they come into contact with -- is music to my ears.


Becca may be new to the Merrick family dynamic thanks to Chris -- and she may not be entirely welcome -- but she's not the type of girl to back down from a challenge.  She wants answers, especially when her family history is dragged into the mess.  This girl's not going anywhere, especially now that Chris is falling for her.  But things are complicated with Hunter in the picture.  This guy's an enigma, but with each little hint we get about him, I am dying to know more.  So, I'm pretty ecstatic that Spirit (book #3) is his story.

This book has it all:  hot boys, a spunky heroine, supernatural powers, hot boys, tons of conflict and action, awesome characters, hot boys, a love triangle, a storyline that I will follow to the very end, and did I mention hot boys?  And after all these brothers have been through and suffered, I just want to gather them all up in a [shirtless] hug.

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What?  Nick approves.

**New Girl gifs aplenty because a) I'm the new girl and b) I imagine a lot of the shenanigans on the show are what it would be like to live with a houseful of boys.  Though, I think there's probably a lot more testosterone kicking in the Merrick household.  =)

Rating:   photo 4-1.png

Favorite Quotes:

“Nah.” He took a swig of Gatorade, then wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Finding a girl in the kitchen isn't exactly an oddity around here.”
“Charming.”
He glanced up at that, a glint of wicked humor in his eye. “I'm sure you're special, though.”
“Not special at all.” She changed her mind and leaned in to take a cookie. “I just heard my number called and thought I’d better show up.”
He grinned. “No way you're here for Nicky.”

“So she doesn’t like the rain,” said Gabriel.
Nick smiled. “I kind of like the irony.”
“Jesus, you are such a nerd.” Gabriel flung the lighter at him. “Stop using big words.”
“Five letters is a big word?”
Chris sighed. “No one likes the rain.”
“You do,” said Nick. He flung the lighter back to his brother.
Gabriel caught it. “Maybe we should put some money on it, see how long it takes Chris to get her wet.”

“Nick,” he said. “I think I’m going to need you to bite my arm.”
“I think I’m going to need you to run that by me again.”

“If you want me to fix your homework, you need to leave me alone.” Then he spotted her. “You’re back.”
“Yeah.” She glanced between him and Gabriel. “You do his homework?”
“Just the math. It’s a miracle he can count to ten.”
“I can count to one.” Gabriel gave him the finger.”

Don't forget we're discussing this book over on Steph's GR review on Sunday as part of the Elementals Read Along.  You still have plenty of time to join!!!

Elementals series

Elemental (Elemental, #0.5)Storm (Elemental, #1)Fearless (Elemental, #1.5)
Spark (Elemental, #2)Breathless (Elemental, #2.5)Spirit (Elemental, #3)


About the author:

Brigid Kemmerer was born in Omaha, Nebraska, though her parents quickly moved her all over the United States, from the desert in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the lakeside in Cleveland, Ohio, and several stops in between, eventually settling near Annapolis, Maryland. Brigid started writing in high school, and her first real “novel” was about four vampire brothers causing a ruckus in the suburbs. Those four brothers are the same boys living in the pages of The Elemental Series, so Brigid likes to say she’s had four teenage boys taking up space in her head for the last seventeen years. (Though sometimes that just makes her sound nuts.)

Brigid Kemmerer finds the time to write somewhere between caring for her family and working at her day job, but sometimes she ends up mothering her coworkers and managing her family. Storm: The Elemental Series was her first novel.

Find Brigid:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Elementals Read Along



20 comments:

  1. I seriously need to read these and meet these boys! I have the first book and I've been meaning to, I swear! This summer, definitely. :)

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    1. You are seriously missing out, Sara! But it's definitely a good series to pick up over the summer. :)

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  2. So fun to read your review. I enjoyed this one and can't wait to see what you think of Spark!

    Jen @ YA Romantics

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    1. I had fun writing it! :) I can't wait to pick up Spark...I already love me some Gabriel. =)

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  3. LOL, I can't decide which one I am in love with either, but the Merrick brothers are new to the Brandi town, but I am loving them.
    Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog

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    1. Hehe...I don't know anyone who's met a Merrick yet and didn't love them. :) But I think I'm partial to Gabriel now.

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  4. I'd noticed these covers before, but never really thought about them or picked one up. I just checked out the first book from the library about a week or so ago, but haven't been able to get to it yet. I'm excited to start the series. It sounds fun. Great review!

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    1. Yeah, I'll admit, the covers didn't call to me at first, but they grew on me, especially the more I get into the brothers' story.

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  5. You're killing me here, Jen. I must start this series soon!
    Great review!

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    1. OMG, Andrea, I think you'd LOVE it. So much fun!

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  6. I'm so excited that each book/novella is about a different boy! I had no idea! This just made this read-a-thon a million times better, if that were even possible :D

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    1. Yep, by the end, each guy will have his own book, including Hunter. :) I think it goes Chris, Gabriel, Hunter, Nick, and finally Michael.

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  7. Great review, Jen. I totally, totally loved "Storm." Of course, I had no restraint, so I quickly read Elemental, Spark and Breathless. Oddly, I started with Spirit because I had an arc and then went hmmm.. I think I missed some stuff. The Merricks are awesome. Gabriel's personality really comes out in spark -- he's got some awesome acerbic wit going on.

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    1. If I hadn't been hosting the read along, I would have had no restraint either. These books are beyond fun!

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  8. I just reviewed it! I loved it!

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    1. Eee! So glad to have you reading with us, Lindsey. Your excitement over these books is palpable!

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  9. Okay, this is now on my list of MUST HAVES! Awesome review, and I LOVE the quotes!

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    1. I'm recommending these books to everyone! They're just so damned fun!

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  10. Your review forced me to give up my Merrick v-card and it was totally worth it! I finished it in two days. Thanks for the review.

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