Review Time #70

Sacrifice by Brigid Kemmerer

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?

What can I say, the elementals series is over and what an ending it has. I have loved the Merrick boys since Storm & Elemental came out and have continued to love the series. I remember when I stopped studying for my HSC to run out, buy and read Spark because I was so excited.

Sacrifice is Michael's full length novel after his novella which told the story of how this war all started out. After everything that happened at the end of Secret, Michael, the Merricks & Hunter are all prepared for war. Michael is full of pressure to protect his family, to keep his family together & to keep the women he loves away from everything that could hurt her.

Hannah, we finally get to learn more about her. We see how and why she became a firefighter, learn more about Jamie & how much of a bad relationship that she has with her father. I loved how Hannah really grew as a character in Sacrifice & became stronger & more independent. While yes, she isn't as kickass as some of the other female leads, her vulnerability made her character.

We meet a new firefighter Irish who I absolutely loved! He was a fantastic edition to the novel & helped out Hannah a lot when Michael was in some trouble. The Merrick boys, while we did get less of them this time around it was still great to read about them. Adam was fantastic he gave some good advice to Michael when he needed it. Tyler was actually good & helpful which was a great change after his previous actions. Hunter was well Hunter, he really became selfless throughout the book.

The ending. I did not see some of it coming. It was intense, crazy and worrying. I want to write more but  I just cannot say anything with spoiling it.

Sacrifice was a brilliant conclusion to the Elementals series. Kemmerer wrapped almost everything up to have a satisfying ending (and a chance for more books). Secret was still my favorite book of the series because Nick is mine (sorry Adam). 

Thanks Allen and Unwin for the review copy!

Rating: 4.5/5

Keely xx

Blog Tour: Secret by Brigid Kemmerer

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.

Brigid Kemmerer you have done it again, pulled me into a fantastic story, worry my heart out for Nick and made me want to hug him and not let him go. If you've read Breathless and I'm pretty sure you already have & it not Aussie's it is in the start the Australian version, you Nick is dealing with a lot.

Secret was a fantastic new addition to the elementals series, since Nick is my favourite of the Merrick Brothers and after reading Nicks novella Breathless I couldn’t wait to get my hands on his own book. We get the perspectives of Nick and Quinn and we follow them in two different journeys in Secret Quinn’s home life has gotten worse and without having Becca so much anymore she has nowhere to go and no one to talk to.  Nick is dealing with a lot his family, the guides, Quinn and now his sexuality this is bringing him to breaking point. Through Secret  we see that they are both dealing with a lot of things that don’t fully focus on the guides that are trying to kill them.

Nick doesn’t know what to, who to talk to, how his twin will react to the news, how Michael will react about him wanting to go to college and Nick failed a test, Nick who has never failed before failed a physics test. Nick is spending a lot of time helping out Michael way more than the other brothers on jobs & finances, he is worries about Quinn and now with Adam he doesn’t know who he is anymore. I really liked the character of Adam and how well he contemplated Nick together the characters lose control which makes Nick worried even more because he likes control. Adam just wants what is best for Nick and is supportive and helpful for him, which made me like Adam a whole lot more.

Quinn in the first three books has been my least favourite of characters but after Secret we get to see more of what Quinn is facing and why she has such a tough exterior because on the inside she is broken and scared. Since her and Becca had a falling out she has no one to turn to and with Nick spending time with Adam and helping his family, she has no one to turn to until she meets Tyler. Yes this is the Tyler who has had a vendetta on the Merrick Brothers who still blames Michael for the death of his sister when really if they hadn’t chased after she would more than likely still be alive. But Tyler is hiding a secret which is revealed at the end of Secret which makes you question a lot of things that seem to already have answers to.

Apart from Nick and Quinn and there love interests, Michael was the best supporting character by far. Once he learns about Nick being gay & how he is feeling about all the pressure that he has been facing which is great. This also got me 100x more excited to read Michael’s book Sacrifice especially with the ending. The ending is where we get the continuing plot of the guides that have been following the Merricks from day one and this time it is much worse than before.

Secret is for those of you who have loved following the journey of the Merrick boys and with the final book coming if you haven’t read this series start!

Thanks to Allen & Unwin for the review copy of Secret!

Rating: 5/5

Keely xx

Waiting on Wednesday #9

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that allows readers to showcase eagerly awaited upcoming releases. The week I have been waiting on Secret by Brigid Kemmerer!

As you know I released the cover on the blog last friday and extremely glad that we have a cover!

Nowhere is safe. Not even home…

Nick Merrick is stretched to the breaking point.

Keep his grades sky-high or he’ll never escape his hometown.
Keep his brother’s business going or the Merricks will be out on the street.
Keep the secret of where he’s going in the evenings from his own twin—-or he’ll lose his family.

Keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who’s supposed to be his “girlfriend’s” partner.

Of course there’s also the homicidal freak Quinn has taken to hanging around, and the Elemental Guide counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers.

There’s a storm coming. From all sides. And then some.

Nick Merrick, can you keep it together?

If you have read any of my posts about the elementals series than you know that Nick is by far my favourite and a WHOLE book devoted to Nick and Adam (okay Quinn too I guess, but I am not a fan) which will be released 28th January 2014! So far yet closer each day!

Keely xx

Review Time #38

Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer 

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…

Spirit is Hunter's book and not a Merrick, however, do not fear they are always in it! Hunter has had a difficult home life and now that he is angry about everything that has happened since he moved, it gets worse.  Throughout Spirit we get to see a side of Hunter that no one has seen before and it always everyone to understand him a lot better. Kate is new and a guide who has been sent with Silver to find out if the Merrick's are really as bad as they think they are and if they are causing all the fires that have been happening.

Remember at the end of Spark and Calla? Well she's back with vengeance on the Merrick boys and Hunter and this time she doesn't care who gets hurt or killed. She is a piece of work this girl and I would say borderline psychotic. When Hunter is kicked out of home he has no one to turn to, because he has burned almost all those bridges, however, Michael understands what Hunter is going though after going through all this before and decides to help Hunter out. 

Kate is a character that you know shouldn't really like her because she is with the bad guys, but someone who end up understanding and liking (wouldn't say love, she is trying to kill Nick, oh and the other Merrick's). Kate is there for Hunter and helps him finally understand the whole being a guide thing, especially after some information is finally revealed to him. Kate has her own vengence to her story, like Hunter in Storm, her mother was killed by a water elemental however, that may not be the case. 

A lot of secrets come out in Spirit and everyone plays a roll in the events that take place. This one is more darker I would say because Hunter and Kate aren't calm people and Calla is running around on her rampage with fire. At the end, even if you didn't like Hunter to begin with, you end wanting to give him a big hug and help all his grief and angry out of him.

I will still say Storm is my favourite, however, Spirit is allowing everyone to see inside that façade that Hunter has going on.

Rating: 4.5/5

Keely xx

Review #28- mini review

Breathless by Brigid Kemmerer
Breathless is Nicks novella, and I love Nick and really want his book! However, this novella made me want it more than ever...

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.



Nick is struggling with himself, not this brothers or Quinn (well Quinn is apart of it) every feeling that he has pushed back has started to come out. Quinn is having family problems, doesn't understand why Nick doesn't want to sleep with her & well dancing relaxes her.

Along comes Adam, dancer, sweet, kind and well gay. Nick's element kinda goes against him in this case and you start to see what Nick is thinking & his element takes over his thoughts. Adam & Nick have a connection & bond over helping Quinn out of a tricky situation which is caused by Nick's confused thoughts. 

Since reading the novella I am so excited to read Nick's novel because I want to see what happens with Nick & Adam. Especially the reactions that the other Merrick boys have and really bugger society if you like someone who cares if it is the same sex *grumbles* because I think everyone just wants Nick to be happy.

Thank you netgalley for the e-ARC!

Keely xx

Waiting on Wednesday #2

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly blog feature hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine which spotlights future releases that we may be eagerly anticipating. Here is my pick for the week:
Spark by Brigid Kemmerer

Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally.

Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.

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.

More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.

Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.

The fuse is lit…

I don't need to say much about this one because everyone gets it when I say Merrick Brothers! After loving Storm I am not set on counting down the days until I can get Spark in my hands! It will be good to read from Gabriel's view after reading Becca's and Chris's. As you can see the countdown widget is on 55days until Spark is released :D
Spark is released in Australia on October 1 2012!


Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

Griffins are supposed to be extinct. So when Yukiko and her warrior father Masaru are sent to capture one for the Shogun, they fear that their lives are over. Everyone knows what happens to those who fail him, no matter how hopeless the task.

But the mission proves far less impossible, and far more deadly, than anyone expects – and soon Yukiko finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in her country's last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled griffin for company. But trapped together in the forest, Yukiko and Buruu soon discover a friendship that neither of them expected.

Meanwhile, the country around them verges on the brink of collapse. A toxic fuel is slowly choking the land; the omnipotent, machine-powered Lotus Guild is publicly burning those they deem Impure; and the Shogun cares about nothing but his own dominion. Yukiko has always been uneasy in the shadow of power, when she learns the awful truth of what the Shogun has done, both to her country and to her own family she's determined to do something about it.

Returning to the city, Yukiko and Buruu plan to make the Shogun pay for his crimes – but what can one girl and a flightless griffin do against the might of an empire?

After seeing everyone rave on about the Stormdancer, I am actually intrigued by what this book will be like and wanting to read it!
Stormdancer is released September 1 2012!

That is my Waiting on Wednesday! What is yours this weekk?

Keely xx