Novel Review: Secret (Elemental, #4) by Brigid Kemmerer

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Kensington Teen

Release Date: January 2014

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Teaser Tuesday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

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.

The Cover:

I rather like this cover. It matches the others in the series, and I like that it gives you a good idea of what you're getting. And since there are two main characters, two main stories, in this book, I like that there are two people on the cover. I like it.

Review:

I haven’t yet gotten to the previous book, but I did really enjoy the first two. And now I’m a little afraid of what happened in Spirit. But even given that, I really enjoyed this book.

The whole Elemental business is getting serious, with a couple developments in this book. And the next one is the last, so I’m expecting there to be even more in that one.

But my favorite parts of this book is the character stuff.

Firstly I want to talk about Quinn. She’s pretending to be Nick’s girlfriend, because she’s afraid of really finding someone she likes. And then, because of Nick, she stumbles upon Tyler. And Tyler is a jerk, upon first impression and many others. He’s Nick’s enemy, and Quinn doesn’t like him from the beginning. And yet… she keeps going back, and he starts opening up. And even with Nick’s romance, this is the one that got to me. Tyler is there for Quinn when she needs someone, when she needs a place to get away from her family. And I loved it.

Then there’s Nick’s story. And I won’t spoil the big secret of his, but it’s important. And his romance with it is so sweet, and what he needs so badly. But telling his brothers is the hard part, and I feel so bad for how scared he is. Especially when Gabriel, his twin, reacts so badly.

I loved the depth and the surprise in this book. This takes the story line so much deeper, so much more intense. And I just loved it.

This book was amazing, and it has definitely made me want to pick up the other two left for me.

Novel Review: Breaking the Rules (Pushing the Limits, #1.5) by Katie McGarry

Rating (Out of 5): ~4-4.5

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: December 8, 2014

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble.

Wishlist Thursday.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A summer road trip changes everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry

For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so... different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who’s never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything — except the one thing Echo’s just not ready for.

But when the source of Echo’s constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants — even as foster kid Noah’s search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.

Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah's more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he'd be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn... seriously epic.

The Cover:

This cover is all right. I don't hate it, but it's not my favorite. I think it looks a little differently from the rest of the series, and particularly from the first book. I think it looks okay for the characters and the story, but something about it... I don't know, the image, them being wet, just looks off to me.

Quotes:

• "There are moments when your heart breaks and melts at the same time. When there’s so much love flooding your soul that you’re drowning in the tide. This is that moment with Noah.” (Kindle)
• "Experience has told me that change normally is the absence of good, and this causes the sensation of ants crawling around in my stomach.”
• "'I want to forgive her, but how can I forgive her when she can’t admit that she’s sorry?’”
• "'Is having bad family better than having no family?’”

Review:

I really wish this were released in physical copy, but oh well. There’s no way I was not going to get this book, no matter the format.

I’d forgotten how much I liked Noah and Echo from the first book. Now, we get to see them dealing with their lasting issues, only now together and wanting to stay that way.

I loved the New Adult aspect of this novel, now that they’re out of high school and on the road, only the two of them. They’re more mature now, and they’re very happy to be together.

This book was pretty angsty, though. They fight several times, trying to deal with their own issues as well as the ones they have together. They want the same things, but they have a very hard time telling them to each other. Some of it was so aggravating. Noah makes one big, stupid step in this book that’s pretty much the climax, and he’s so frustratingly dumb about it. Because, just, Noah, really?

Noah is trying to be the man he thinks Echo deserves, trying to do everything too fast and making himself doubt. Then Echo wants to do her art, while dealing with her mother and her scars. Then Noah’s family comes in the picture. Everything gets messed up, before it can even try to get better. The fact they’re together lets us see them be a couple, do couple things and plan together, and do more steamy things. That was nice.

Also, we see Isaiah several times, and I love him. He’s such a good friend to both of them. And it just made me want to re-read his story.

The whole story went by so fast, though, and I loved it. The ending was so great.

I can’t wait for her next book.