YA Mini-Reviews: Breathless (Elementals 2.5) and Spirit (Elementals #3)

  Brigid Kemmerer's Elemental series is incredibly addicting, compulsively readable, and well written. I'm a bit burnt from the whole paranormal romance genre at the moment because every book seems to be the exact same with the only difference in the characters names. I definitely suggest picking up this great series if you're in a reading slump or just want to lose yourself in a good book for a few hours. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of Breathless and Spirit.

Description (edited to avoid spoilers): 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 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.

Review: Breathless is a pleasant surprise, especially with an ending that made your jaw drop and go "Wha??" Out of the Merrick brothers, Nick is suppose to be the one that has it all together. He is suppose to make it out of their small hometown, go to college and have a career unlike his brothers. All of these expectations accumulate on his shoulders until they become unbearable. When Nick befriends one of Quinn's friends, this are more trickier than ever. He discovers a secret that he has long ago abandoned due to it's contrast of what he is suppose to be for his brothers and what he believes of himself.
  After Michael, Nick is my second favorite brother. I'm excited yet at the same time afraid of the heartbreak he will face in his full fledged book called Secret. I love how Kemmerer keeps her series fresh with new ideas and obstacles her characters face though they might not be completely original. The characters are what makes me come back to this series over and over again. This novella sets up Secret perfectly and we given so many questions to ponder.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, crude sexual humor, and underage drinking. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Chronicles of Nick series by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Intertwined series by Gena Showalter, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Description: 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…

Review: Unlike Storm and Spark which focuses on introducing the main cast of characters and a strong romance story, Spirit is solely focuses on the character arc of Hunter Garrity. My opinions of Hunter change like a barometer, which I think is what the author wanted. Sometimes I think he's an ally for the Merricks, genuinely wants to them and other times I'm not really sure what is his real motive. Hunter has always lived by one simple rule: Do not trust anyone else but yourself. He is a loner by choice though he has moments of vulnerability in which he would like to unburden his thoughts and guilt to another person. It was interesting to read how Hunter got himself in a hole and needed to break down his defenses in order to ask for help. It was also fascinating to see how our perspectives of the Merricks from an outsider's perspective doesn't really change but makes them much more likable.
  There is a lot more action in Spirit as we are introduced to another smart villain, but there is also a subtle romance that works well but doesn't overwhelm the plot. Kate Sullivan is Hunter's equal in almost every aspect of their personality and back story. They play each other off really well and their romance is what enhances their character growth. I was stunned to read how Spirit ended and the risk that the author took. While sad, I'm also curious as to how Hunter will react in future books, go back to his shell or continues to grow. I really hope the latter.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some strong language, crude sexual humor, a small non-explicit sex scene, and underage drinking. Recommended for Grades 9 and up.

If you like this book try: Secret by Brigid Kemmerer (Elementals #4) *Released 2014, Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris, Touch by Jus Accardo,