Title: Sacrifice (Elemental #5)
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Published: September, 2014 by Kensington
Pages: 324
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

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?

Final Thoughts:
This is the book I’ve been waiting for. It’s no secret that Michael’s been my favourite of the Merrick brothers throughout the series, so coming into his book I was ready for it to hook me, and it did. Actually, I think I’ve been hooked since Spirit, but with this being the final instalment, it just brought so much more to the table. Whereas the books teetered around their troubles with the Guides—assassins sent to kill them—tending to focus more on the romantic struggles of the main couple each book, Sacrifice slammed right into an angsty mess of constant danger as Michael tried to keep everyone he cared about alive.

Title: Secret (Elemental #4)
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Published: January, 2014 by Kensington
Pages: 328
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

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.

Final Thoughts:
This series has me hooked. I’m dreading finishing it off, but I can’t wait to start Sacrifice. There’s just something about these characters and the way they interact that gets you so invested. I know I bitched about book two not advancing the plot, but I’ve changed my tune. When I realised the Elemental stuff wasn’t making much of an appearance again this time, I had already become engrossed in the characters that I didn’t care. So much happens with them in these three hundred or so pages that I can see how a paranormal plot heavy book could have torn away from all of the great revelations and personal growth that came through in this book.

Title: Spirit (Elemental #3)
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Published: May, 2013 by Kensington
Pages: 301
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

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…

Final Thoughts:
Any doubts I had about this series are gone. Hunter hooked me right back in, and he wasn’t even one of the brothers. His perspective wasn’t one that I expected to enjoy, him being one of the characters I didn’t particularly enjoy in Spark. I guess I just didn’t know him well enough. He was easily more likeable than Gabriel, leading me to fly through this book picking it up at every chance I got. I think a main drawcard was the addition of Kate. She wasn’t the standard, plain-Jane love interest. She was an assassin. When I read that, I knew this book was going to be different.

Title: Spark (Elemental #2)
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Published: August, 2012 by Kensington
Pages: 345
Rating:  
Purchase: The Book Depository

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…

Final Thoughts:
Gabriel Merrick is one angsty guy. There were times where I was grunting in frustration at some of things he was doing. He didn’t seem to like being isolated from his brothers yet his short temper would get the better of him and he’d do more and more to wedge the distance between them wider. There was very little time spent with the other Merrick boys because of this. Most of it came down to his lust for fire…and the girl in his Math class, Layne. Bickering, romance, fist-fights and self-doubt ensued. While it took me a while, say a hundred pages, to get back into the story, once I did, I found it a heap of fun. The Elementals is a series I’ll certainly be continuing. I’ve got Spirit sitting in front of me right now.

Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Titles link back to Goodreads
• The Queen Of Zombie Hearts by Gena Showalter (purchased)
• The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan & Maureen Johnson (purchased)
• Four by Veronica Roth (purchased)
• Sacrifice by Brigid Kemmerer (purchased)
• The Maze Runner by James Dashner (purchased)
• The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (purchased)
• The Death Cure by James Dashner (purchased)
• Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater (purchased)

It happened again. It’s been months since I’ve posted one of these. Work’s been busy, life’s been busy–I’ve just been super time poor. Also, I haven’t bought that many books. I’ve just been letting the few I’ve gotten accumulate in a pile before I tackled the task of finding somewhere on my over-stuffed shelves to squeeze them in. Personally, I think I need a whole new set of bookshelves. My current ones are looking ready to fall apart. I’d really like to get some built-in ones–wall to ceiling once I’ve built my own house. I think that would look awesome.

For now, though, I’m just getting more books. I don’t really know when I’ll read any of these as I’ve read only the first of Gena Showalter, Veronica Roth and Brigid Kemmerer’s books and none of the other series yet–oh, except for The Mortal Instruments, so I could potentially jump into Magnus’ bunch of stories anytime. I just need to get in the mood for a giant book. I’ve actually just finished reading Sarah Rees Brennan’s Unmade, the final in that trilogy. My review will come soon as I’ve thought it up. It’s just so hot this weekend, that I can’t really bare to sit a the computer for an extended period. I need ice cream, and I need it NOW. With that said, I’ll leave you to your stinking hot weekends–or chilly, depending on which side of the world you’re on.

So, what books have you gotten lately? Let me know what I should be checking out in the comments.

Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Titles link back to Goodreads
• City Of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare (purchased)
• The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater (purchased)
• Broken by CJ Lyons (purchased)
• Secret by Brigid Kemmerer (purchased)
• Take Me On by Katie McGarry (purchased)
• Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (purchased)

Firstly, CoHF, why is that book so large? It looks good on my shelf, but I was so tired after reading it. I feel like it could’ve crushed me if I’d fell asleep reading it in bed. I mean, I enjoyed it, but it just could have been shorter. I needed to read a Rainbow Rowell book after it to recharge.

I found the other two hardcovers, Broken and The Dream Thieves for $8 each at an independent secondhand bookstore I just discovered in a residential side-street. I’ll be going back there. There wasn’t a huge selection, but it was fun seeing what random YA books they had sitting in a tall stack there.

I picked up Take Me On last weekend during Big W’s 10% off sale. I’m still yet to start the series, though, so it’ll be gathering dust on my shelf for a while. However, after how much I loved Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door went straight to the top of my to-read list as soon as it arrived. I’m either starting it today or tomorrow depending on whether I get sucked into watching a Nikita marathon this afternoon. I just finished Fringe yesterday, so Nikita‘s next on my list of TV to watch.

Here’s what Joey and I have been reading this week:
Clare, Cassandra City Of Heavenly Fire – This ate up practically my whole weekend.
Haas, Abilgail Dangerous Girls – Joey took this one on to see what all the hype was about.

So, what books have you gotten lately? Which books would you recommend I read first? Let me know in the comments.

Stacking The Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga’s Reviews all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

Titles link back to Goodreads
• Phantom Eyes by Scott Tracey (purchased)
• Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer (purchased)
• Broken Dream by Eden Maguire (purchased)
• Agent 21: Codebreaker by Chris Ryan (purchased)
• Agent 21: Reloaded by Chris Ryan (purchased)
• The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton (purchased)

These books were all $5 or less each, except for Spirit, but it was only $8.50. One of my local bookstores was having a 50% off sale in preparation for their eventual closing down once their lease ends. The shopping centre it’s in is being refurbished, so all the stores have to go. It’s sad, and I’m hoping they reopen once it’s done, but in the meantime–cheap books!

I haven’t started the Agent 21 series, and don’t know if I will anytime soon, but it’s good to have the books here if I get the urge to read a spy book. Likewise, I haven’t started Eden Maguire’s series, but if I start buying a series, I want to have them all, just in case I can’t find them later. I’m up to date with the Witch Eyes series, but after a big disappointment with how book two went down, I’m in no rush to get back into it. It’s another ‘one day’ book. I am looking forward to The Blood Keeper though. It’s been a while since I read the first one, but I have a feeling I enjoyed it. I’m always up for a good witch story–hard as they are to find. If you know of any that blew you away, let me know.

That’s it for this time. So, what books have you gotten lately? Let me know in the comments.