Storm (Elemental, #1) in And So It Begins Reading Challenge

Oct 04, 2013 Paula Phillips rated it it was amazing

Feeling helpless and sick of being the victim, Becca Chandler decided to attend self-defense classes. However what she didn't count on is that after her first class , she would have to save someone from a fight. Not just anyone as well , but the youngest of the Merrick Brothers - Chris. Now the Merrick Brothers are quite special as each of them can control an element and Chris is Water which Becca will soon discover. However, now that Becca has been labelled as a "friend" of Chris's she can't k ...more

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Nov 08, 2011 Nicole rated it really liked it

Shelves: signed-by-the-author, upcoming-antidotes, urban-fantasy

I really enjoyed the story - and the snark - in this one. My biggest disappointment is that the sequel isn't from Chris and Becca's POV. I love getting into other characters' heads, but I needed more closure with them from the first book to warrant that. Still, a very enjoyable urban fantasy. I may continue with the series one day. ...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Carrie Ardoin rated it really liked it

Shelves: i-own-this, on-my-kindle, other-supes

It's not exactly the best timing when Becca Chandler saves Chris Merrick from getting a beating in an alley behind the school. But she does, and soon enough she's in the thick of Chris and his three older brothers, Michael, Nick, and Gabriel. Which is not great--since people at her school are already believing a vicious rumor her ex boyfriend spread about her.

Then Becca learns that Chris and his brother aren't exactly normal. All four of them have an affinity with an element: air, fire, water, e It's not exactly the best timing when Becca Chandler saves Chris Merrick from getting a beating in an alley behind the school. But she does, and soon enough she's in the thick of Chris and his three older brothers, Michael, Nick, and Gabriel. Which is not great--since people at her school are already believing a vicious rumor her ex boyfriend spread about her.

Then Becca learns that Chris and his brother aren't exactly normal. All four of them have an affinity with an element: air, fire, water, earth. And some of the people in town think it would be safer if the Merricks were dead. Becca struggles to help the Merricks--and herself--stay alive.

I'd seen so many great reviews of this book that I knew I had to read it, and I'm glad I did. I did have a couple of issues with it though.

*****SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW!*****

So, our lead girl, Becca. I'm a bit conflicted on her. At the very beginning of the book, she is taking a self defense class. And throughout, she has her tough girl moments. But unfortunately, she's never tough where it counts. Her best friend Quinn comes off needy and bitchy at times, but Becca just kinda takes it. And then there's the attempted rape issue.

See, Becca's ex boyfriend Drew started spreading the rumor that she'd slept with half the school...because he tried to rape her and he was scared she'd turn him in. And she just...went with it. God, I had a lot of trouble reconciling this with myself. Becca would rather be labeled the school slut than turn in Drew and his friends for what they did to her??? THEN, they try to do it again later in the book! I don't love what happened when it comes to the whole way Becca responded to the rape issue.

Anyway. It was cool to see characters use the elements who weren't witches! The Merrick brothers definitely all have their own distinct personalities, but in the end they all care for one another and don't let anything come between them.

This book has some inklings of a love triangle, and honestly, I'm not sure in which direction it's gonna go. Both boys interested in Becca have lied to her, and yet she is drawn to them. I guess we'll see in the next book.

I kind of had a feeling about what Becca really was, and I was right. But I still really liked this story. I look forward to learning more about the Merrick brothers. ...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Christy rated it it was amazing

This book had me hooked from the first chapter. Once I picked it up, I didn’t put it down until I was finished. Storm starts off on a dark night with Becca literally swooping in to save Chris Merrick’s life. Everything pretty much goes downhill from there, when she realizes Chris and his brothers aren’t normal. The Merrick brothers are targeted due to their levels of power and now that Becca is involved with them, she isn’t safe anymore either.

I love the characters in this book. Becca is this s ...more

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