Storm by Brigid KemmererAdd to: Goodreads
Source: Won from the fabulous Beverley!
Publisher: Kensington
Format: Paperback, 353 pages
Release Date: April 24, 2012
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.
If you visit any of the same places that I do, I'm sure you've heard of Storm. Words like 'amazing' and 'breathtaking' are being thrown around so often that they've become synonymous with the book in my head. Do you know what's even better? I COMPLETELY AGREE.
Brigid Kemmerer's characters are so compelling. The heroine, Becca, sure doesn't have it easy at the moment but she is such a fighter. She stands her ground in a way that I couldn't help but admire and she easily reached my list of favourite heroines! There's a vulnerability that's apparent when reading Becca's thoughts but hell if she's going to let her ex-boyfriend and the cruel kids at her school ruin her life.
And then the boys. THE. BOYS. Chris, Nick, Gabriel, Michael, Hunter... I just want them alllll. The way that the Merrick brothers in particular are with each other just was so wonderful. They're hilarious and charming and infuriating, they get at each other's throats and have some real, burning tension between them, but at the end of the day, they're SUCH a family. I loved how they looked out for each other and cared for each other and just ahhh. Plus, their individual hotness didn't hurt....
Oftentimes, I have a part of the story that's my favourite, whether it be the characters, plot, writing, etc. But for Storm? I just can't choose! I loved ALL OF IT. The story itself is such a heart-pounding adventure, more so because I was so in love with the characters. Brigid paints bullying in such a gritty, raw light, even though it's not the main focus of the novel. All of the elements in Storm are so wonderfully intertwined that it just all makes for one of the BEST books I've read this year.
HIGHLY recommended!
Cover Comments: Weeeell, I'm certainly not complaining... *bats eyelashes at Merrick brothers*
(So, as you can see from the excessive use of capitals... I kind of loved this book)
5 Golden Crowns!
Sounds beyond amazing. I'm trying to temper my expectations, but I love that you so clearly love this book. The plot sounds incredible and I'm glad the characters are good too. I'll probably have to pick this book up- and soon. :)
ReplyDeleteErm, so, yeah. I still need to read this book. And you, Sonia, have convinced me that the hype is well deserved. It sounds awesome! And the fact that you want all the brothers, lol! Are they are really that fanatbulous? I must get my hands on this book somehow. If it's one of your favourites of the year...hmm. Maybe I'll do some magic and bewitch someone to buy it for me.
ReplyDelete(I wish I had magic)
Great review! Seriously can't wait to read this. I need to know what everyone is raving about! :P
Yay!! I totally love this series. It's so much fun, and the characters are just fabulous.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I replied to your comment on my 5-stars post. Thanks so much for the great comment! =)
This series is phenomenal!!!! And you put it perfectly, this story has it all, fantastic characters and an mesmerizing plot! Wait until you read Spark, which was probably even better!!! Squeals!
ReplyDeleteIt deserves ALL the exclamation points!!!!! Thanks, Danny! <3
DeleteI think pretty much EVERYONE loved this book. Glad to hear that you were one of those readers. It was definitely a fun read. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Erin! <3
DeleteAren't the Merricks just the greatest creation ever? ;) I want them all too... but I'll settle for Nick (or Michael!) I'm glad you enjoyed this, Sonia! Spark is even better in my opinion. :)
ReplyDeleteI think I'll settle for anyone of them!
DeleteUm. Is this possible?
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
ReplyDelete*breathes*
Sorry about that, Sonia, my dearest Queen ;P I just can't help it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE BRIGID and her books. I just finished Spark yesterday and like Sam said, I think it's even better than Storm (which is really hard to say since Storm was brilliant too!) Gabriel is one AWESOME Merrick. XD I think I'm pretty much in love with all the Merrick brothers although Michael might be a little too old? :P
Anyway, awesome review, Sonia! ♥ So glad you enjoyed it! I can't wait for you to read Spark ;)
I KEEP HEARING THIS AND IT IS GETTING ME 50x MORE EXCITED SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Delete(There's never a need to apologize for squeeing here o_O This is a squee-friendly zone)
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOONIIIIAAAA!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE THIS BOOK.
I LOVE YOU.
AND YOU LOVE THIS BOOK.
THEREFORE I DOUBLE LOVE YOU NOW.
Oh lord. Those Merrick brothers.... damn. Damn. I do consider myself a Gabriel girl, but they're ALL freaking AMAZING. And exactly like you said, "they're SUCH a family." Brigid really does an amazing job of digging deep at crafting REAL characters and REAL relationships. Storm blew me away in more ways than I was expecting. It just doesn't seem believable that a woman can be THAT awesome, friendly, humble and talented and produce a book like this. THERE HAS TO BE A FLAW SOMEWHERE, RIGHT?!?!
I LOVE YOUR REVIEW AND NOW HURRY UP AND GO READ SPARK PLEASE <3
MY ULTIMATE GOAL IN READING THIS BOOK HAS JUST BEEN ACCOMPLISHED: YOU LOVE ME FOREEEEEEEVER! <3 (Unless I read Spark and don't love it, then will you hate me, omg the pressure...)
DeleteI don't know if I can consider myself a Gabriel girl quite yet ;) I actually liked Nick QUITE A BIT haha. But that probably shouldn't surprise anyone.
WILL DO, CAPT. BRODIE! *salutes*
Ahhh! Sonia! Storm! And some more exclamation marks for good measure - !!!!! I loved Becca as a heroine. Something about her just clicked for me. I mean, sometimes characters are fun to read about, but I wouldn't want to hang out in real life. But I would totally be best friends with Becca. She could have Chris, and I could have Hunter. YUM. And then he could teach ME Krav Maga, and loan me his crystal bracelets. What is not to love in this picture? NOTHING, is the answer you are looking for.
ReplyDeleteAnd I really liked the way that Kemmerer handled the sexual assault aspect. One of the things I hate most in books is when an author just throws in a traumatic event for the sake of the plot and the character isn't really affected by it at all. It makes me so angry, and I think if you're not going to handle it realistically and properly then you just shouldn't have included it at all. But I thought Kemmerer wrote it and the impact that it had on Becca so well and so sensitively and so respectfully.
And I totally agree with you on the family-thing. I adore my brothers, and get annoyed by my brothers, and I love reading books that reflect the complicated mess that real sibling relationships can be.
Such a great book. NEED SPARK IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW. Also Hunter. And Casper, the best dog ever.
UGH! I WROTE A LONG, AMAZING (if I say so myself) COMMENT SAYING HOW MUCH I LOVE YOUR REVIEW, AND BLOGGER ATE IT.
ReplyDeleteDKAHFDAKL:.
Basically: ADKJJAGDF. WHAT BRODIE SAID.
But my original comment was much longer, and in my own words.
Even so. The sentiment is the same :D