Elemental #5 Sacrifice

Presenting Elemental #5 Sacrifice by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

Earth. Fire. Air. Water.

One misstep and they lose it all. For the last time.

Michael Merrick understands pressure. He's the only parent his three brothers have had for years. His power to control Earth could kill someone if he miscalculates. Now an Elemental Guide has it in for his family, and he's all that stands in the way.

His girlfriend, Hannah, understands pressure too. She's got a child of her own, and a job as a firefighter that could put her life in danger at any moment.

But there are people who have had enough of Michael's defiance, his family's 'bad luck'. Before he knows it, Michael's enemies have turned into the Merricks' enemies, and they're armed for war.

They're not interested in surrender. But Michael isn't the white flag type anyway. Everything is set for the final showdown.

Four elements, one family. Will they hold together, or be torn apart?

The conclusion of all conclusions.Another favorite series ends. Brigid Kemmerer's Elemental series began with a short novella on Michael Merrick and ends with the eldest Merrick again, along the way focusing on one Merrick brother every book (except 'Fearless' and 'Spirit' that focused on Hunter). Of course hot boy grazing the covers of each of the books was a plus too besides its strong plots.

'Sacrifice' proved it with Michael Merrick. He is the epicenter. He is the adhesive or more of a glue that keeps his family together. He is the leader. The big brother and a parent too. And its definitely not a walk in the park with three brothers Gabriel, Nick and Chris and Hunter and all the drama they bring. Michael has always lead a difficult life. He has made many a sacrifices just to keep his family and he would just do it again and again if it meant that his family would be safe.

Throw in Elemental magics, enemy guides, relationships and finances and you would truly appreciate what Michael means to his brothers. Action packed, exhilarating, and emotional turmoil at every turn. Life has never been easy for our boys and with the Guides closing in and their penchant for ensuing collateral damage its not only the Merrick brothers and Hunter in the line of fire but Michael's girlfriend Hannah and her little boy too.

Having always been self reliant, it has always been difficult for Michael to ask or even accept help or unload his burden with others. But fate and circumstances and the mysterious enemy closing in and specifically singling him out starts to crack him. He learns the hard way that help offered doesn't always mean danger and that his little brothers are not so little anymore. He learns that blaming himself won't make things better and must learn to lean on others, most of all to his girlfriend, Hannah.

Of course, Hannah gets her moments as well. Very much similar to Michael in more ways than one. She knows the difficult life Michael leads. A mother at fourteen, a firefighter and soon to be paramedic, Hannah like Michael has problems sharing her troubles with the others. But like the previous stories it is not about them and their relationship this time around.

Its about Michael. His brothers. Hunter. their loved ones and about them all that stands in the line of fire. With sparse romance Kemmerer spins an emotionally charged conclusion. Michael and Hunter's relation needs to be mentioned too. Michael had all but adopted this fifth, ie., Hunter when he felt the loneliest of all and its this kindness that serves them when they least expect it.

Dramatically and emotionally charged. Brigid Kemmerer presents a pretty different style of conclusion. A shocking death and coming full circle, quite an anti-climate end, the author puts a new meaning to the term 'sacrifice' and we appreciate it all the more.

"An exhilarating and emotionally charged conclusion to the Elemental series"

Genre :      Young Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Romance

Publisher: Kensington Teen

Release Date: 30th September, 2014

My Copy: publisher and netgalley

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Other Books in the series (review links):
         Elemental series review links

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

Elemental #4 Secret

Presenting Elemental #4 Secret by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

EARTH. FIRE. AIR. WATER.

Nick Merrick is stretched to breaking point. He's trying to keep his grades sky-high or he won't get in to college. He's trying to keep his brother's business afloat or the Merricks will be out on the street. He's trying to keep the secret of where he's going in the evenings from his twin brother Gabriel - or he fears he'll lose his family. And he's trying to keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who is his 'girlfriend's' partner.

And then Quinn takes to hanging around his sworn enemy, and an Elemental Guide is counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers. Storms are brewing. On all sides.

SECRETS IN THE WIND. DANGER IN THE AIR.

SEXY..... HOT DAMN SEXY..... Riddled with secrets and tackling some very deep societal issues, the fourth book of the Elemental series, 'Secret' is every bit engaging and exhilarating as the previous ones and following the trend of the series of changing perspectives in every book. This time it is Nick and OMG IS IT INTENSE....

Nick Merrick is our air elemental of the Merrick bunch. And he is getting stifles and has reached his breaking point. 'Secret' is a rather aptly titled book. Secrets.... Secrets all round. And Nick doesn't know what to do. We  first saw as glimpse of this secret in the novella 'Breathless'. He fears if the secret of his meetings with his 'girlfriend's' hot dance partner comes to the front, he would loose it all. Nick is the quite and dependable;e one and he doesn't know how to handle it anymore. Added with it, the threat of the guides is another thing he doesn't know what to do about.

'Secret' is more ways than one, a break from the norm. The tension with the guides may be there but it is Nick and Quinn's inner struggle that frame the majority of the book. Nick has found out something about himself, a life-altering revelation and he doesn't know how to deal with it. He fears his attraction to the sexy Adam and fears he would loose his family too if his secret comes out. Add to that he yearns to attend college out of state but he has it in mind too that he must help with his family job.

Brigid Kemmerer tackles some serious issues this time. A beautiful story of secrets and acceptances, of forgiveness and of choices and opportunities needing grabbed when they present themselves. Kemmerer improves with each book and each story..... and I am very much excited to read the next book 'Sacrifice' with Michael.

"Of secrets and acceptances, this is one intellectually sound book with the tinges of the sexy. An unputdownable mix"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: K Teen

My Copy: Publisher and Netgalley

Rate:             4/5 (Really Liked It)

Books in Series(review links):

         #0.5 Elemental

         #1 Storm

         #1.5 Fearless 
         #2 Spark 
         #2.5 Breathless 
         #3 Spirit

Elemental #3 Spirit

HAPPY RELEASE DAY...... Spirit this time.... bring it on. Presenting Elemental #3 Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

With power comes enemies. Lots of them.

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies.

He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.

Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too.

With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he’ll have to find someone he can trust…

Its Hunter's tale and its not all sunshine and roses. Picks up right sometime after Spark ended and Hunter it seems has alienated himself from the Merrick brothers after his bad decisions in Spark. Even Becca isn't talking anymore and Hunter feels like the person on the outside looking right in. But then Kate Sullivan enters his life.... she is new to town and butting heads where they don't matter.... And the danger still persists because Hunter doesn't know how to stop Calla Dean and the question of the dangerous guide leaves a bitter taste in everyone's mouth.

Brigid Kemmerer I seriously want to know how you get the inspiration for such dashing men...... come on thats like a distinctive talent to focus on one of them each book and make us fall irrevocably and utterly in love with them (so jealous of their girlfriends). I admit i was hesitant about Spirit, as it moves away from the Merricks to the outcast tough guy with bad-ass tattoos. But Kemmerer just had to make us fall in love with him didn't she.... Oh !I'm not complaining it was pretty educational too..... But no need to sound unhappy you guys the Merrick brothers are still here and they look out for their own.... its just Hunter needs to learn to trust them more.

I really liked Kate's character here. She comes on all at once, she is spunky, sassy, smart and a right seductress to boot and is just enough to lighten the phase Hunter is going through, what with picking a fight with just about everyone there was. The romance here is just something you have never seen before... its fun, its needy, balancing and sometimes just sweet at the same time.

Nothing less than spectacular, Kemmerer spins a tale well a part of a tale with the least known characters. Bringing every feeling, every emotion and splashing them across the pages.... and we feel right at home. Another amazing talent of an author..... her writing the way she brings out a story from inside a story and gives it an appropriate position too. In a way Spirit had much more drama than all other books of the series.....Brilliant..... keep it rolling Ms. Kemmerer.... can't wait for Nick and Mike's tale next.

 "Brigid Kemmerer takes us successfully upto the Hunter Garrity alley with this one"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: K Teen


My Copy: Publisher and Netgalley


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Awesome)


Books in Series(review links):

         #0.5 Elemental

         #1 Storm

         #1.5 Fearless 
         #2 Spark 
         #2.5 Breathless

Elemental #2.5 Breathless

Its a Nick short this time.... Presenting Elemental #2.5 Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

Too many secrets. Not enough time.

Nick Merrick is supposed to be the level-headed one. The peacemaker. Since it’s just him and his three hotheaded brothers against the world, that’s a survival tactic.

But now he’s got problems even his brothers can’t help him survive.

His so-called girlfriend, Quinn, is going quick as mercury from daring to crazy. Meanwhile, Quinn’s dancer friend Adam is throwing Nick off balance, forcing him to recognize a truth he’d rather shove back into the dark.

He can feel it—-the atmosphere is sizzling. Danger is on the way. But whatever happens next, Nick is starting to find out that sometimes nothing you do can keep the peace.

The air elemental and Gabriel's twin, Nick Merrick grazes the cover of this short story. Even the level headed ones have their own secrets...... every person has them. And Brigid Kemmerer ..... oh you brilliant woman....... she throws us a big secrets about the peacekeeper of the lot that we may never have thought possible.

 Nick is the dependable brother. The most level headed of the rowdy bunch. He can never do any wrong .... but color me surprised.... Nick is having identity issues. He is scared to tell his brother.....understandable.... still he needs to give his brothers a chance.... and I totally did not see that coming. But thats not all, Breathless shows is the shitty home life of Quinn, his girlfriend. She has an attitude but behind that is just a scared girl who wants to be accepted for who she is. And even if Nick is not attracted to Quinn, her understands her.... the dynamics of this relationship is truly a beautiful one....

"Secrets and issues..... Brigid Kemmerer gives big insights into the least known (as of yet) characters of her series"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: K Teen


My Copy: Publisher and Netgalley


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Awesome)


Books in Series(review links):

         #0.5 Elemental

         #1 Storm

         #1.5 Fearless 
         #2 Spark

Elemental #2 Spark

Its red.... red means warm..... red means fire...... red means Gabriel..... Presenting Elemental #2 Spark by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally. Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can't. Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he's not doing it. And no one seems to believe him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Because Layne has a few secrets of her own...

The cover is red.... and red as far as the story points to is another HOT Merrick brother, the fire elemental this time, Gabriel. Spark pushes the story forward with Gabriel's perspective and his lady love's, Layne. Fire just like water can never be kept in bound. Even if water can be molded according to the vessel it is kept in but Fire..... you don't control this rage of nature..... tame it maybe ..... but absolute control is not possible....... In a way this describes Gabriel's fiery temper and attacking-before-asking-the-question nature perfectly.

The premise of Spark draws parallels with Storm but who cares I am partial enough to long exposures to the inner monologues of any and all the Merrick brothers and their other half's. For Gabriel and Layne, the latter proves to be a bit more of a calming presence to the rage in him, with Chris and Becca it felt they both needed the balance they so desired from their lives.... But got to say be it any brother or their girlfriends, their chemistry is enough to light us on fire *wink* (get your minds off the gutter people... i didn't mean it like that).

Spark also sees Gabriel and Hunter forming this weird friendship. Where Hunter helps Gabriel learn control over his element. It becomes clear later why Hunter was doing it, secrets were revealed and truths come out. Hearts break and trust shatters but Gabriel learns his important lesson that keeping secrets from family and loved one is detrimental to health not calming at all. Another brilliant work Ms. Kemmerer...... amazing.

"Another marvel in the series..... the Merrick brothers sure know how to make you all tingly inside"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: K Teen


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Awesome)

Books in Series(review links):

         #0.5 Elemental

         #1 Storm

         #1.5 Fearless

Elemental #1.5 Fearless

Another novella..... Presenting Elemental #1.5 Fearless by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

Being a force of nature doesn t keep you safe.Hunter Garrity is used to watching his back. The kids at school sense something different about him. And they re right.

Hunter has powers that have nothing to do with how hard he can throw a punch.

Maybe that s what Clare Kasten is picking up. She s shy, quiet, and intense, but she s sought him out. There s no telling what she wants from him.

But Hunter knows enough to sense a secret when it s close. And getting close to Clare is a danger he s ready to face.

Elemental was Mike's story, then Storm was Chris and now Fearless is Hunter's story. Chronologically placed just after Storm, this dates before Storm as this is Hunter's story before he moved to their (Merrick's) town. This is Hunter's story and his incident with Claire. Few days before the accident that killed his father and Uncle, Fearless is when Hunter gets the lesson that 'use them before they use you'.

Sick but this does explain Hunter's actions and his decisions, that he takes or will take in the following book. Fearless also explains his lack of trust in all those around him. Believable since he is a spirit elemental and spirit, the life force is way more affected in situations like these.

"Another tease but with Hunter Garrity this time"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: K Teen


Rate:             4 /5 (Really Liked It)

Books in Series(review links):

         #0.5 Elemental

         #1 Storm

Elemental #1 Storm

Its fresh, its new, its hot..... Presenting Elemental #1 Storm by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

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.

As I said in my previous review, i.e., in the Elemental review, that I am reviewing it in the order of placement not publication. So now I move onto the first book of the series and suddenly things make much more sense around here.... Suddenly things make much more sense, about those swoon-worthy boys on the covers and this wonderful world Brigid Kemmerer created starting with Storm.

HOT! HOT! HOT! The Merrick brothers - Michael, Gabriel, Nick and Chris are so HOT. I wanna use crass words to describe what i'm feeling right now *wink**wink* but since I don't want to weird anyone out or even myself for that matter so I am resigned to using the good words YAY!!!

We started out with Michael's story in the novella, Elemental..... there it is just the beginning, we know the brothers are elementals.... pure elementals, so are a lot of people. But Storm is what explains it in details to us. What it means to control these basic building blocks of life..... what would the consequences being a pure elemental mean for them. What started this for the sake argument with the weaker elementals of town and how they cope.... and what lead them to live their loves like that.

By now there have been 5-6 books (including novellas) out and each focuses on the boy in whose perspective the book is written. With a blue cover, Storm places itself in Chris Merrick's.... HOT Chris Merrick's perspective and Becca Chandler's, his lady love. Both meet by chance when she saves him unknowingly from other elementals hassling him at school. What follows is a cat and mouse game between these two add to that the entry of new kid, Hunter Garrity making it a triangle and the ever tightening noose of the mysterious guides.... and you have yourself an epic testosterone fueled drama, that has you swooning in places.....

HOTNESS ALERT!!! HOTNESS ALERT!!! I am prepared to forget every other YA HOTTIE I have ever crushed on or lusted after in light of meeting the Merrick brothers.... storm has enough drama, secrets, stolen moments and action so much action to satisfy everybody. Brigid Kemmerer gives us the first dynamic couple on the block with Chris and Becca. Even the love triangle with Hunter feels genuine and not imposing at all. And the elemental action..... amazingly depicted... the way Chris interacts with water is just outworldly..... Stay tuned you all for my reviews of the equally hot sequels in the series....you will so not be disappointed at all.

"They saw this as the series that YA fans have been waiting for..... they are so right...."

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: K Teen


Rate:             5 /5 (It was Amazing)

Books in Series(review links):

         #0.5 Elemental

         

Elemental #0.5 Elemental

New series..... and some pretty hot boys grazing the covers... HOT! HOT! HOT! Presenting Elemental #0.5 Elemental by Brigid Kemmerer.

Here is the summary of the book:

Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they are more than you dream.

As an air Elemental, 17-year-old Emily Morgan doesn’t have much power. That’s okay—she knows what happens to kids who do.

Like Michael Merrick. He’s an earth Elemental, one with enough power to level cities. Which makes him sexy. Dangerous. And completely off limits. At least according to Emily’s family.

But her summer job puts her in close contact with Michael, and neither of them can help the attraction they feel. When forces of nature like theirs collide, one misstep could get someone killed. Because Emily’s family doesn’t just want her to stay away from him.

They want him dead.

Hot new series by the debutante author Brigid Kemmerer. I'll be clear before I begin about my review, since i'm starting it a little so I decided to read and review in the chronological order of numbering and not in order of publishing. So here goes nothing......

Elemental - is the story or the beginning of the story that started it all. Kemmerer whips up a rather fresh tale from something as basic as the five elements of nature. She takes the basic building blocks - Earth, Fire, Air, Water and Spirit and gives it much more than ever imagined before. This is Mike Merrick's tale and like everything it starts out peacefully but the end .....

The Eldest of the Merrick siblings, Mike is an Earth elemental - a pretty awesome connection to the Earth. Which makes him all the more appealing, sexy, hot , swoon-worthy and every other word in the category. But this level of power makes him dangerous. This is Mike starting, befriending the enemy Emily and coming to fall in love with her..... But its not as simple or as soft as a bed of roses.

Just a short story. It doesn't show the inevitable...... a tease..... A tantalizing tease.... The starter to the meal..... like a delicious appetizer..... which continues on to the first book of the series, Storm.

"A marvelous tease by Brigid Kemmerer"

Genre :     Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy


Publisher: K Teen


Rate:             4 /5 (Really Liked It)