Release Date: January 28th, 2014
Publisher: KTeen
Pages: 352 Goodreads
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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.
Warning: This is the 4th book in the Elemental series. The spoilers will be kept to a minimum.
I loved the first book in the Elemental series, Storm. It gave us our first taste of the Merrick brothers by introducing the youngest Merrick himself, Chris. When book two, Spark came out we got inside of the mind of middle child, Gabriel. I loved Spark even more. Book three Spirit, which featured a non-Merrick but still compelling character, Hunter, I felt was not quite as amazing as its’ predecessors, but nonetheless still a great read. Secret, which focuses on the second middle child, and Gabriel’s twin brother Nick, was simply fantastic. And dare I say, my favorite book yet! At least, it’s seriously competing with my previous favorite Spark.
Nick has always been the quietest brother and not because he has yet to be featured, but rather because of this docile nature. Until he got his own novella, I never realized how wound-up and truly “secretive” he was. Besides hiding his feelings of sexual preference, Nick also hides his everyday desires and wants. He has trouble saying no, especially when it comes to his brothers. He’s too busy worrying about everyone else and not thinking enough about himself. Like Kemmerer’s previous novels, Secret is narrated by dual-POVS; one boy (Nick) and one girl (Quinn).
Quinn has personally never been a favorite of mine. Pushy and dramatic, Quinn has irked me since her debut in book one. However, now that we’ve gotten insight into her violent and heartbreaking home-life, it’s easier to understand and accept the type of person she is. A lot of her annoying qualities can now be seen as methods of coping and survival. Like Nick, she has quite a storyline in Secret, every bit as emotional and powerful. After reading Secret, I now have a new-found respect for Quinn. She grows immensely as a person.
I definitely see why Kemmerer paired Quinn and Nick together in this book. Although different scenarios, both characters have brutal secrets that eventually become too large to manage. Together and with old and new friends, Quinn and Nick overcome a lot in Secret, but not without emotional hiccups along the way.
With plenty of action (like always) and tense emotional situations (also, like always) Secret knocks it out of the park. The Elemental books are one series that I can’t recommend highly enough. They have everything – meaty characters, incredible arcs, intricate story-lines and exciting supernatural twists. If you haven’t yet, check out book one Storm – you won’t regret it!
An ARC of this book was provided by KTeen in exchange for a honest review.
